In the first two games of this 2014 Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers capitalized on good breaks (Carey Price injury), good bounces, an emotionally drained Canadiens team (from the Boston series) and mental mistakes by the Canadiens to take a 2-0 series lead back to New York. They return to Montreal now with a 3-1 series lead because they were able to do the same in Game 4, a game they likely should’ve lost. Now they have a chance to get to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1994 if they can continue to make the best of their opportunities and not let the Habs make the best of theirs.
The Canadiens wasted seven of eight power plays in Game 4. But more importantly they made some costly mistakes coming through the neutral zone (See the Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard goals) and with their first outlet passes of out of their own zone, especially Andrei Markov‘s two unsuccessful blind passes that led to the Marty St. Louis overtime winner.They also seemed to have lots of communication issues on line changes allowing the Rangers to pounce on the subsequent odd-man rushes.
“It’s not over yet. A lot of hockey yet to be played,” Canadiens superstar defenseman P.K. Subban told the media after the game. “That’s playoffs. That’s playoff hockey. That’s all it takes is one bounce, it’s one inch, you know? That’s the difference in a game. I’ve been down 3-1 in a series before and the tide can turn real quick. We’re prepared to go home and play a good game.”
Yes, Alex Galchenyuk hit the cross bar late in regulation and yes, Henrik Lundqvist was once again “The King” but when it comes down to it this series could be tied at two and the Habs could have home advantage in what would then be a best of three series with Game 5 at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, Game 6 at Madison Square Garden Thursday, and then if necessary Game 7 back in Montreal on Saturday if they made their own luck or took advantage of their own bounces in Games 2 and 4. That’s what championship teams do. Subban is correct, the playoffs, hockey, and even sports in general has a lot to do with luck and bounces. But Montreal didn’t make the best of their opportunities in those two games and because of that and the brilliance of Lundqvist, Game 6 is now an if necessary game.
“We had a couple of opportunities where the puck bounced back the other way; things happen,” Subban said. “We’re not too focused on [the loss] now. We have a quick turnaround here, so we have to put it behind us and get ready for the next game.”
That’s the right attitude to have and it will be key for the Canadiens to not let frustration or the fact this series could easily be tied linger until faceoff for Game 4. But Subban and coach Michel Therrien also recognized the greater difference in Game 4 and why they’re now facing elimination for the third time in this 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.
“It’s a game of mistakes, and the team that makes the least amount of mistakes is usually the team that wins,” Subban pointed out.
Therrien echoed that sentiment and alluded to the mistakes that cost his team the game on the St. Louis overtime winner.
“We got a few chances to get out, to move the puck out of our own end, and it cost the game,” said Therrien.
Now if the Canadiens want to win their third straight elimination game Tuesday, they will need to limit those mistakes as much as possible and not be so worried about the bounces. The bounces came for them in Games 6 and 7 in the second round against the Bruins because they didn’t wait for them. They earned them by out-working the President’s Trophy winners. It could be argued they out-worked the Rangers as well in Games 2 and 4 but just ran into the wall that is Lundqvist right now, but when all was said and done, they also made one too many mistakes and now find themselves with no margin for error.
— After a less than Subban worthy first two games of this series, Subban is rounding into form and looking like the Subban who put the team on his shoulders against the Bruins and led them to victory both on and off the ice. He logged the second highest ice time of his career (33:16), blocked 5 shots and scored a goal in Game 4 and will have to be even better in game 5 as he and his teammates try to stave off elimination.
— Just wondering what John Tortorella thinks of Carl Hagelin these days?
— Not to beat a dead horse for Habs fans but Ryan McDonagh has seven points in four games in this series. The more I watch this kid, the more I see a future captain for the Rangers and Team USA.
–At what point does Therrien sit Thomas Vanek? He may be hurt but more importantly his lackluster play is hurting the team.
–I laugh at those who blame Dustin Tokarski‘s height for the St. Louis overtime winner and say the taller Price would’ve had it. Maybe so, but it’s not height that led to that goal, it was the lackluster play of Markov and Alexei Emelin. Might be time for Emelin to take a seat in the press box too.
-Prediction: The Habs live to see another Game. After that, I have no idea. Going to be very difficult to beat Henrik Lundqvist three straight times.
