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No Emelin for Habs again in Game 6

New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens - Game One

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 19: Alexei Emelin #74 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the New York Rangers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 19, 2014 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

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Both the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens will look a little different in Game 6, even if those tweaks aren’t purely performance-related.

The Canadiens get Brandon Prust back from his two-game suspension for that hit on Derek Stepan. He’s not a huge scorer, obviously, but players occasionally make a big impact when they’re trying to make amends for suspensions and other mistakes.

They won’t be getting everyone back, however, as Alexei Emelin’s “body injury” appears severe enough to sideline him from a second straight contest.

As expected, the New York Rangers will indeed replace a suspended John Moore with defenseman Rafael Diaz.

These aren’t top-line caliber players, yet in the playoffs, sometimes it’s the smaller names who make a big difference.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins