MONTREAL — In the aftermath of their Game 2 loss to the Rangers, the Canadiens prepared to fly to New York for Thursday’s Game 3 with their third-string goalie in tow, believing this Eastern Conference final series is far from over despite trailing 2-0.
The Canadiens also believe luck will eventually leave the crease of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and join their side.
“Is [Lundqvist] playing well? Yes, but some of it is luck,” Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban said after Monday’s game. “If we keep getting those looks, we’ll put some of them in the net. I shot a couple that were tipped and hit his shoulder and he didn’t even see it. We’re getting pucks to the net and bodies in front, we’re just not burying chances.”
Subban’s comments were relayed to the Rangers’ Brian Boyle while he was on ESPN Radio’s “The Michael Kay Show.”
“He can think whatever he wants to think; it doesn’t really matter to me,” Boyle said. “I have my opinion of Hank and he’s all-world, he’s on a different planet right now. If you want to call it luck, that’s fine, but he’s the best I’ve ever seen right now.’’
Despite Subban’s contention, Montreal coach Michel Therrien spoke with reverence about the Rangers’ netminder, saying after the game and on Tuesday that Lundqvist was the reason the Rangers won Game 2.
“This is an opportunity for us to show our character and resilience,” Subban said in the losing locker room late Monday. “I still think we have a lot to give in this series.’’
Subban gave at the office like nobody’s business Monday night, taking 18 shots — nine Lundqvist saved, six were blocked by the Rangers defense and three went high or wide.
There have been times in these two games when the burly Subban has looked as if he was trying to hoist the entire franchise on his ample shoulders and carry it to victory. Of course, it takes more than one player — especially with the team’s world-class goalie, Carey Price, out for the series with a right leg injury.
The Canadiens, with an early fury the Rangers somehow stemmed and survived — thanks to Lundqvist at his very best — put 41 shots on goal Monday night. They looked like a different team than the curiously catatonic group that lost 7-2 in Game 1.
This is what gives the Canadiens hope as this series shifts to Madison Square Garden.
The Canadiens, to a man, sounded like a team that expects to return to Montreal on Monday not to begin golf season but to host Game 5 at the Bell Centre.
“We have belief,’’ Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher said. “We’ve dealt with adversity all year. This is the best team I’ve ever played on. After Game 1, there was not much we could say positive, but there’s a lot of stuff we can feel good about [after Game 2].
“It obviously wasn’t the result we wanted, but we can build on this. We’ve got to go to New York and win one game. You can’t focus on winning four games at once. One game. You’re not going to win four games in one. We have to put all the effort into one game.’’
Therrien, who gave his players the day off Tuesday, said, “I believe that we will turn around.
“Yes, the first game was tough for us, emotionally it was tough for us, physically it was tough for us,’’ Therrien said. “[We] didn’t get much time between Game 7 [of the Boston series] and Game 1, and it was an afternoon game. Obviously, it shows with the result.
“But you know what? I thought we regrouped really well from that first game. I thought [Monday] we were a team that played with a lot of energy. I thought we were a team that’s pushing the pace, and we played a solid game. I’m anxious to see my guys [Tuesday] and going to New York because we’re looking for one win, and momentum can change quickly in the playoffs.’’