Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist gets his first win in Montreal since 2009
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, right, reaches for a loose puck around Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban during the second period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in the Stanley Cup playoffs in Montreal on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Credit: AP / Adrian Wyld
MONTREAL -- Henrik Lundqvist hadn't fared well at Bell Centre. He entered Saturday's game with a 4-5-2 record and hadn't played in Montreal since he allowed four goals on Jan. 15, 2012. His last win there was in 2009.
The atmosphere can be intimidating, with the history, the pregame theatrics and the roaring crowd. But Lundqvist, not Carey Price, who had once blanked the Rangers for 278 consecutive minutes here, skated off with the victory.
"I felt good coming into the game," Lundqvist said. "The last time I played here we had a different team, and I've grown as a goalie as well. Every time you play you have to show yourself. We haven't won that many games in this building, so it's good to get a great start."
Drought ends for Nash
Rick Nash, who leads all players with 54 shots on goal in the playoffs, finally broke his postseason scoring drought by netting the Rangers' seventh goal on a five-on-three past Peter Budaj 4:36 into the third period.
"He's been playing so well, maximizing his effort on the ice, blocking shots, throwing the body," said Brian Boyle. "Something like that could open the floodgates for him."
Nash, who logged 16:20, also assisted on Chris Kreider's goal with 1:01 left in the second period that extended the Rangers' lead to 3-1.
Blue notes
The seven goals were the most the Rangers have scored in one playoff game against the Canadiens . . . The Rangers were 3-for-7 on the power play, the first time they had three power-play goals in the playoffs since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 6, 2007 against Buffalo . . . Mats Zuccarello, who had a goal and two assists, leads the team in assists (seven) and points (11). Martin St. Louis has four goals and six assists . . . Dan Girardi had five blocked shots in 21:37.
