Tanner Glass scored in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves as the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 in the opening game of their NHL playoff series on Wednesday night.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set for Friday night at Bell Centre.
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Michael Grabner added an empty-net goal with 1:10 left to play.
Shots were 31-31 in a fast-paced game with plenty of chances at both ends. Lundqvist looked to be fighting the puck as Montreal had a 16-5 first-period shot advantage but managed to keep the puck out if his net.
The Canadiens are looking to a avenge a six-game loss in the first round to New York in 2014, a series in which Carey Price was injured in the opening game on a hit from Chris Kreider.
This time, Kreider pulled up when barrelling toward Price in the first period.
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Fired up by 1960s pop star Ginette Reno’s national anthem, the Canadiens were all over New York in the opening period, but it was the Rangers who struck first 9:50 on only their third shot.
Tomas Plekanec won a draw in the Montreal zone, but fourth line winger Glass pounded on it and lifted a backhand from the slot over Price’s shoulder.
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