Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the New York Rangers hosting the Montreal Canadiens at 8 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:
--- Despite erasing a 4-1 deficit by scoring 3 goals in a span of 4:24 in the 2nd period of Game 5, the Rangers could not close out the series as Montreal scored 3 unanswered goals after that to stave off elimination.
- The 7 goals scored were the most in a playoff game by the Canadiens since 1992 & the most in a Conf. Finals (or NHL Semifinals) for them since 1975.
- The 7 goals allowed were the most in a playoff game by the Rangers since 1996.
- The 11 combined goals marked the highest scoring game of this postseason.
- Montreal led for 55:34 of Game 5 compared to leading for only 2:50 total in the first 4 games of the series.
--- Montreal is averaging 3.19 goals/game in these playoffs (L.A. is tops at 3.42). The Canadiens opened the postseason as the only team to score 3+ goals in their first 7 games (3.86 average, 6-1 record) but, prior to Tuesday night’s scoring outburst, Montreal had not found the back of the net with the same consistency:
- Montreal scored 8 total goals in Games 1-4 of this series & 7 in Game 5.
- New York is currently averaging 2.37 goals against/game this postseason – best of the remaining teams & the second lowest total behind Boston’s 2.17 for these playoffs.
--- Montreal is 3-0 in games when facing elimination this postseason. In NHL history, only 1 team, the 1999-2000 Devils, has won a Conf. Finals (or NHL Semifinals) series when down 3-games-to-1 (66 tries). Montreal is 0-6 all-time in that situation & 2-14 all-time in postseason series when trailing 3-1. The Canadiens have never forced a Game 7 in a Conf. Finals series in which it trailed 3-games-to-1. Elias Sports Bureau
--- Henrik Lundqvist, who will extend his franchise record of consecutive postseason starts to 86 tonight, was pulled in the 2nd period of Game 5 after allowing 4 goals on 19 shots. He had previously been pulled in 3 playoff games (NYR lost all 3), & holds a 1-2 record, 3.00 GAA & .887 SV% in the game following being pulled:
--- Lundqvist in the last 5 postseason games in which the Rangers have a chance to clinch the series but do not face elimination (no Game 7s) has not fared well: 0-4 record, 5.52 GAA, .808 SV% (NYR have lost all 5 games, Cam Talbot took loss in Tuesday’s game).
--- Rene Bourque tallied his first career postseason hat trick in Game 5 & first by a MTL player in a Conf. Finals (or NHL Semifinals) since 1975 (Guy Lafleur). Elias Sports Bureau
- Bourque has 8 goals in 16 gms this postseason (t-2nd in playoffs); he had 9 goals in 63 gms during the reg. season.
--- In Game 5, the Rangers’ top line of Chris Kreider (1 goal, 3 assists), Derek Stepan (2 goals) & Rick Nash (1 goal, 1 assist) combined for 8 points. Kreider, Stepan & Nash have combined for 20 points (9 goals) in this series.
--- Montreal scored on the power play for the second consecutive game in Game 5 going 1-4 with the man advantage while the Rangers went 1-7 in the game. The Canadiens have gone 2-21 (10%) in the series on the PP while New York has scored on 5 of its 22 (23%) PP opportunities in this series.