CFN – Habs goalie absolutely stole game three in their series vs the Rangers in NY last night as Montreal got an over time goal by Alex Galchenyuk for a 3-2 win.
Montreal played a brutal game being drastically out shot and out played in spite of being behind in the series 2 games to 0.
The new “Headcase” line of Thomas Vanek, Rene Bourque, and Danny Briere put the Montreal up 2-1 in the third before the Rangers proved the old adage that sometimes you just have to put the puck on net as the Rangers tied up the game with about 30 seconds left banking a shot in off of D man Alexei Emelin.
PK Subban was held with only one shot for his 25 minutes which will just not cut it at this point of the season. David Desharnais may not be scoring, but he was 18-8 in the face off circle.
Tokarski was not stellar or Roy like, but he certainly played some timely goal tending and watching the game you could tell he was giving it his all and reminded this writer a bit of Jaraslav Halak.
Picked up for former goalie Cedric Desjardins, “Toke” has shown huge value filling in admirably for Carey Price late in the season when Peter Budaj failed. He gives Montreal and unusual conundrum for next season as Budaj has one year left on his contract.
Andrei Markov had his best game of the play offs as well on defense and offense as he scored the first goal for Montreal; his first of the play offs.
Former Ranger Brandon Prust won his dance with NY tough guy Derek Dorsett in the first period as the boys were chippy with bad blood still for Chris Kreider running of Carey Price which has knocked him out for the series.
For Montreal to really get back in the series though they will have to start keeping the puck on their sticks and knocking it off the Rangers. Watching the game it was frustrating watching the Habs seem to be focusing more and trying to keep up with the faster Rangers than simply knocking it off their sticks and moving it back up into the Ranger’s zone.
With Henrik Lundqvist really not playing strong they need to get 30+ shots on goal each game to have any chance of moving forward to Lord Stanley’s cup.
What do you think Habs fans? You can post your comments below.
We’ll see tomorrow if Tokarski is the next Dryden.