Canadiens defeat Rangers 7-4 in Game Five, now trailing 3-2 in series

The Montreal Canadiens have forced the Rangers into Game 6 of the Eastern Conference playoff series.

Montreal outshot the Rangers 28-27, which a hat trick from left wing Rene Bourque, and goals from Alex Galchenyuk, Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty.

Rangers’ goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was pulled from the game with 11:02 remaining in the second period, after allowing four goals on 19 shots. Cam Talbot replaced him with his second appearance of the postseason. In less than five minutes, the Rangers slashed three goals on Montreal’s goaltender Tokarski to tie the game, 4-4. Lundqvist told the New York Daily News, New York Daily News “As a group we have to come back with a better performance. I know there’s a lot of focus on me, but I think we all have to step up here.”

Derek Stepan returned to the Rangers’ lineup after suffering from a broken jaw from a Brandon Prust hit in Game 3, and scored twice for New York. Chris Kreider and Rick Nash also scored for the Rangers.

At 10:41 of the third period, Rangers’ defenseman John Moore was given a major penalty for a blindside, high hit on Dale Weise. He was ejected from the game, and will have a hearing with the league on Wednesday. USA Today USA Today reports that Rangers’ coach Alain Vigneault said, “Johnny’s definitely not the type of player to hurt someone, but it was a late hit and it was the right call on the ice.”

Weise was unsteady after standing up from the hit, but was able to return to the game.

The New York Rangers will have another chance to earn a trip to the Stanley Cup final in Game 6 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.