Montreal Canadiens Look To Take 3-1 Series Lead Over Boston Bruins
May 6, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) skates by while Montreal Canadiens forward Lars Eller (81) celebrates with teammates including Brian Gionta (21) after scoring an empty net goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
The Montreal Canadiens aim to take a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Bruins in game four of the second round series tonight at the Bell Centre.
The Habs were able to come out of the opening pair of games with a split in Boston, and took the series lead with a 4-2 victory on home ice Tuesday night.
Tomas Plekanec opened the scoring in game three off a beautiful feed from Thomas Vanek midway through the opening period. Subban extended the league to two when he came out of the penalty box and received a breakaway pass from Lars Eller. Subban deked out Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask and beat him to give the Habs a 2-0 lead heading into their dressing room after 20 minutes.
May 6, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (76) reacts with teammate Josh Gorges (26)after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins goaltender during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Dale Weise gave the Habs a three goal lead when Daniel Briere sent him in alone on Rask, and the fourth line winger made no mistake, firing the puck between the legs of Rask with just over six minutes to go in the middle frame.
The Bruins were able to get back into the game thanks to a late second period goal be Patrice Bergeron and a Jarome Iginla marker with just under three minutes to go in the third. However, Lars Eller sealed the game when he scored into a Bruins empty net in the final seconds of the game.
Carey Price was solid for the Habs once again, though not as busy as he had been in the two opening games of the series. Price stopped 26 of 28 shots and was only beaten by a pair of perfect tips by Bruins forwards. After a difficult first game, the Habs goaltender has posted a save percentage of .922 and is 5-1 in his last six starts in the NHL playoffs.
Subban had a goal and an assist in game three, and now has six points in this series already, and is up to 11 points in seven playoff games this year.
May 3, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) controls the puck while Boston Bruins right wing Jarome Iginla (12) defends during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Thanks to the game three victory, the Habs now have a chance to hang on to home ice advantage in the series and could take a 3-1 series lead in the process tonight. Montreal is 3-0 at home in the postseason thus far, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in game’s three and four, before taking out the Bruins at the Bell Centre two nights ago.
The Habs were 23-13-5 on home ice in the regular season and the Bruins were 23-12-6 as the visitor, and are 2-1 on the road in the postseason.
It appears the Canadiens are not making any lineup changes for game four, meaning that Francis Bouillon and Brandon Prust remain in the pressbox, while Douglas Murray and Travis Moen will stay in the lineup.
Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Brendan Gallagher
Michael Bournival – Tomas Plekanec – Thomas Vanek
Rene Bourque – Lars Eller – Brian Gionta
Travis Moen – Daniel Briere – Dale Weise
May 6, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov (79) checks Boston Bruins forward Reilly Smith (18) during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Douglas Murray – Mike Weaver
Carey Price
The puck drops on game four at 7:30 P.M. Eastern Time, and the game can be seen on CBC, RDS and NBCSN.