AP Photo/Seth Wenig

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Alex Galchenyuk took a puck off the face in overtime to win the game for the Habs, drawing them closer to a series tie with the Rangers. Galchenyuk crashed the net on Tomas Plekanec’s shot, and the ensuing rebound went off his face and into the net for the overtime winner. This came minutes into overtime, just after the Rangers tied the game dramatically with a goal in the final 30 seconds of the game.

Dustin Tokarski was phenomenal in the game, stopping 35 of 37 shots and truly preventing the Rangers from breaking the game open in the first period. He also appeared to have MSL’s number, stopping him with numerous glove saves at point-blank range. Hank stole Game Two for the Rangers, and Tokarski stole Game Three.

On to the goals:

Rangers 1, Habs 0

P.K. Subban had his shot attempt at the point blocked by Carl Hagelin, leading to a two-on-one with Martin St. Louis. Hagelin’s pass to St. Louis went through, and Tokarski made a stellar save, knocking the puck in the air with his glove. Hagelin whacked the puck out of midair for the goal.

Habs 1, Rangers 1

This isn’t really a goal you expect Hank to give up, but there is also fault on both Rick Nash and Derek Stepan, as neither picked up Andrei Markov on the far side, despite Ryan McDonagh waving to cover him. Max Pacioretty hit him with the cross ice pass, and Markov beat Hank with the low shot from the circle.

Habs 2, Rangers 1

Habs criss-cross to enter zone, which throws Benoit Pouliot off his coverage. Danny Briere dropped the puck to Rene Bourque, who was Pouliot’s man at this point, for a rocket of a shot that Hank made a great save on. The rebound went right to Thomas Vanek, who shot it wide with Briere coming behind the net. Briere threw it in front, and it went off McDonagh’s foot and into the net.

Rangers 2, Habs 2, 

With Hank pulled, the Rangers sustained some real pressure for the final 90 seconds, generating a ton of offensive chances. Eventually the puck wound around the far boards, where Dan Girardi pinched to keep the puck deep. Girardi threw the puck at the net from the corner, where it banked off Chris Kreider, then off Alexei Emelin and behind Tokarski for the tying goal with less than 30 seconds to go.

Habs 3, Rangers 2

Kevin Klein backed off Plekanec, allowing the shot from a distance. Hank stopped it with his pad, but the puck rebounded off Galchenyuk’s face –with John Moore not taking the body– and into the net.

Fenwick Chart:

Courtesy of Extra Skater

Courtesy of Extra Skater

The Rangers dominated the puck possession game, and really got back to their game and doing what they do best. If there is a positive to take away (and there are), this is one of them.

The Canadiens still have only beaten Hank clean once this entire series, and that was in this game on Markov’s goal. The other two goals this game: Weird bounce. Game Two: Weird bounce. Game One: Weird bounce and a goal with eight guys on the ice. But it doesn’t matter, since Montreal won the game and is now down by just a single game in the series. Game Four will be on Sunday, and the Rangers are now in a dangerous spot. This game may have become a must win for them now.

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