New York Rangers Eliminate Canadiens To Advance To Stanley Cup Final

After surrendering 7 goals to the Montreal Canadiens in game 5, the New York Rangers played a shut down style in game 6 and escaped with a 1-0 win and a ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in game 5, and although he wasn’t overly tested in game 6 he made every save he needed to in order to lead his team to the next round and the franchise’s first Finals appearance in 20 years.

Dominic Moore‘s goal with 1:53 remaining in the second period was all the offense the Rangers could muster against Dustin Tokarski, but this time 1 was enough. Tokarski was brilliant at times, making 31 stops but got no offensive support.

Montreal managed just 18 shots on goal, including just 5 in the third period as they were thwarted in their attempt to get even and frustrated but didn’t show the desperation you might expect from a team with their backs against the wall.

Tokarski was solid in relief of Carey Price, who missed the last 5 games with a leg injury after being run into by Rangers forward Chris Kreider.  His 2.60 GAA and .916 SP were average on the whole but he gave them what they needed in the net.

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The Rangers, who haven’t been this far since winning their first Stanley Cup in 50 years in 1994, will face either the Los Angeles Kings or Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final, which will begin next Wednesday.

For the Canadiens, they haven’t been to the finals since 1993, which is also the last time a Canadian-based team won the Cup, a drought that will extend to 21 years.