It was 20 years ago that the New York Rangers last advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Well they are back!! Henrik Lundqvist posted a 1-0 shutout in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Montreal Canadiens. It was the biggest night of his nine-year career, and he did not let the Madison Square Garden crowd down. His 18 save shutout proved to be the difference in the critical Rangers victory.
The New York Rangers only goal was scored on a snap shot from the stick of Dominic Moore. The goal was all the Rangers needed. The Rangers defense was amazing. They held the speedy Montreal Canadiens to only 18 shots on goal. When the Canadiens did get pressure on net, Lundqvist came up big, and shut them down. “It was such a great feeling to see how we responded from the last game,” Lundqvist said, when referring to Montreal’s 7-4 win in Game 5. “The third period, I think we played our best period of the playoffs. When it mattered most of the guys really stepped up. It was awesome to be back there and see the way we took charge and earned this victory.”
Lunqvist was coming off a terrible outing in Game 5. He allowed four goals on 19 shots in less than a period and a half. He was pulled in favor of Cam Talbot in the second period. The pressure was on him to rebound in Game 6 and he delivered. It would not have been good for his nerves or any other Rangers player to have to go back to Montreal for the deciding Game 7.
Lundqvist commented on the pressure involved in deciding games. “Going into the playoffs you talk about it is a roller-coaster mentally. You have so many highs. You have a few lows where your questioning a lot of things, but then you just have to make up your mind. You can’t have any excuses.”
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The Rangers now advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994. Their opponent will be the winner of the Los Angeles Kings versus Chicago Blackhawks series. The Western Conference Finals Game 7 will be decided Sunday night. The opening Game of the Stanley Cup Finals will be scheduled to start on Wednesday night, June 4th.
Brad Burud the owner/editor of the Inside Edge Hockey News. I am a huge fan of hockey, from youth hockey, to junior hockey, and of course professional hockey. I have played, coached, worked as statistician, and watched hockey all of my life. Hockey is not just a game, it is a lifestyle and family. The game of hockey is great! It can bring you nights of great enjoyment. It also brings nights where you feel like your team will never win. I am proud to be a journalist for the greatest game in the world. I have a degree in Business Administration, Psychology from Minot State University. I also have a Hockey General Manager and Scouting, and Sports Communications/Journalism degree from Sports Management Worldwide. I am also a member of the Sports Executives Association. Most of all I am a fan. Hockey is a huge part of my life and my families life.