First Round Playoffs Game 2 Away game 2 | Friday April 18, 2014 | Canadiens lead the series 2-0 |
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Game Recap:The difference in this game was that the Canadiens got a lead and kept it. The key goal was scored midway through the second by Rene Bourque as he caught the Tampa defense flat-footed following a smart feed by Vanek. With the two-goal lead the Habs were able to clog up the neutral zone for the final 30 minutes. The Canadiens power-play was able to get back on track with a goal.
Plus / Minus ▲ Carey Price, Rene Bourque, Lars Eller, Brendan Gallagher, P.K. Subban, Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges, Thomas Vanek ▼ Francis Bouillon, Mike Weaver |
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Boxscore:
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | SO | T |
| Canadiens | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 |
| Lightning | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | – | 1 |
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Shots on Goal:
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T |
| Canadiens | 10 | 8 | 8 | – | 26 |
| Lightning | 11 | 8 | 8 | – | 27 |
| NHL Three Stars | ||
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| Post-game Press Conference |
- “It was a complete team effort tonight. I liked the way that we were managing the puck, I liked the way we were checking. We were ready for adjustments from the Lightning and guys really stuck to the game plan.”
- “It’s been a tough season for Borkie but since [Rene Bourque] has been back in the lineup, he’s taking this opportunity, he’s hungry, he’s on puck, he’s physical and he’s scoring some big goals. He got a great game too tonight.”
- “That was a big goal for us on the power-play. It gave the guys confidence. Even the last one we didn’t score, I really liked the way we executed the puck. I’m not panicking with the power-play. I know by working, by teaching, things are going to get better. That was the first step tonight.”
- “I think that we were really focused about the work we had to do. I really liked the leadership from our group. When we approached every game, we don’t want to try to see the end result.”
- “Our focus has been like that every game. Yes we were happy to win one game but emotionally we were not too high and we knew that tonight was going to be a big game for us, for both teams. But I liked the composure of the team. I liked the leadership of the team.”
- “We accomplished good things this year. To be able to pick up 100 points, we have to accomplish a lot of good things. And both teams accomplished good things through the course of the season.”
- “We approached the playoffs with a lot of confidence. We liked the way we finished the year. We’re just building on that. It’s important to play with confidence, confidence about the way we believe that we are playing that we had success. Through the course of the season, we got better and better. I really liked the way we finished the year so we’re approaching the playoffs with a lot of confidence.”
Forward Rene Bourque
- “It hasn’t been a smooth ride since I got here. It’s been tough, but I’m just trying to keep my head up. Definitely, it’s been up and down. I feel like I can elevate my game in the playoffs and I’m more of a playoff performer. It’s kind of more my style, getting gritty and playing hard. Hopefully I can continue to play well.”
- “It was a great play [by Thomas Vanek.] I knew right away he was going to be able to get it to me. I was screaming pretty loud for it. It was nice to get the puck with speed and make a move there.”
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper
- “It’s a little different they come into the third period, they’re up 2-0 so I’m sure their game plan was — they weren’t looking to score more goals — they were looking to prevent goals. I didn’t think getting through the neutral zone was that difficult for us in the first (period.) We were thinking about it on the bench too that it was a little difficult for us (in the last half of the game) but I think that the score had something to do with it.”
- “We worked hard to get home ice and now it’s taken away from us. We got a good group of leaders in there. When you got a team that cares, they take it upon themselves. They understand the magnitude of what’s gone on and for them to sit down and gather their thoughts about it, that’s why I like that group of guys. They know what’s at hand and they know they’ve got more in ’em. For them to sit around and talk about it, that’s good for them.”
- “You’re down 3-0 with 8 or 10 minutes left in the game, we needed something. Goalies are pulled for a plethora of reasons. Sometimes you’re trying to give your team a spark. We needed something because it was dire straits at that point. I thought that putting Goudy (goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis) in would give us a lift. It was tough. I felt bad for him that his first rush goes in the net. There’s no goaltending controversy or anything like that. We needed a spark and as a coach sometimes you’re grasping for straws at some point because you’re trying to win a hockey game. We were looking for a spark.”
- “I thought that the first period went our way. For the first 15 minutes we had good jump, we were creating things, we had our chances. The crowd was into it. Momentum kinda got cut a little bit when we took the double minor but we go in 0-0 (at the end of the first period), we’re fine. In the second we were okay. They get the power-play goal. I think that type of game the way it is being played, I think getting the lead was big.”
- “(Carey) Price had to make… we had our chances. We were buzzing. Theirs went in, ours didn’t. If it goes reversed, who knows what’s going on right now? It’s a game of breaks. They got the breaks and we didn’t. We were better tonight than we were in Game 1.”
- “In the brief history that I’ve been a coach here, we’ve played pretty well (in Montreal.) I’ve liked our games there. It’s a phenomenal environment for anybody whether you’re a hockey fan or not to go there. I’m sure that they’re tickled pink to go there up 2-zip. But they still gotta wins games. Clearly we have to win one but (Montreal) can be a tough place to play when you’re winning and a tough place to play when you’re losing. It can be a great place to win when you’re winning. But they gotta go home and deliver what they delivered here.”
- “We’re coming in fighting. We like the way we’ve played there. We like the ice, we like the rink, we like the atmosphere. If I was going to pick any rink we wanted to go to and play, we’ve enjoyed playing in Montreal. The fans are great, they’re hockey fans, so it’s a lot of fun to play there. So what do we have… let’s just go play Game 3. We have to win one and let’s go have fun.”
- “Montreal has played well. They’ve played two solid road games. They got the lead today and shut her down. They’ve gotten some “secondary scoring” because (Rene) Bourque had two goals. He’s been a pretty good scorer in this league. Maybe he’s had a down year. He’s been a good player in this league. I know people are talking about (Danny) Briere — he has 100 points in 100 games, or whatever it is, in this league. Like these guys aren’t schleps. Yeah, they’re getting secondary scoring from really good players. These are veteran players that have been in the league. Right now they’re delivering for them in two games at a time they should.”
To look back at the full lineups for tonight’s game, check the Game Day preview.
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