Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the Montreal Canadiens hosting the New York Rangers at 8 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:
• When the Rangers scored seven goals in Game 1, it marked the first time in NHL history that a road team scored seven or more goals in Game 1 of a conference final or NHL semifinal series, and the 11th time overall. (Nine of the previous 10 winning sides went on to win their series.) It also marked only the second time that a road team won Game 1 of a conference final or NHL semifinal by five or more goals. (In 1950, Toronto defeated Detroit 5-0 in Game 1, but later lost the series in seven games.)
• For the Canadiens, it was the worst-ever margin of defeat (five goals) in a non-elimination playoff game at home. (They lost 8-2 in Game 6 vs. CAR in 2002, and 6-1 in Game 5 vs. OTT in 2013.) In the 14 previous best-of-seven series in which they lost Game 1 at home, the Habs have won seven series and lost seven series. Against the Rangers, they are 1-1 (they lost in six games in the 1974 NHL Quarterfinals and won in five games in the 1979 Stanley Cup Final).
• The Rangers have lost their last 13 playoff games which they entered with a lead in the series, the longest such streak in NHL history. The last time the Rangers won a game when they led in the series was in Game 4 of their first-round series against Washington in 2009 (they led the series, 2-1, then won Game 4, 2-1); the Rangers went on to lose that series in seven games. In the five series since then when they have held a lead at any point in the series, their series record is 4-1. The last time the Rangers took both Games 1 and 2 on the road was also that 2009 matchup against Washington.
• The Rangers lead all teams with 16 first-period goals this postseason and seven wins (7-1 record) when leading after the first period. They are also tied with Chicago (8-0) for the most wins when scoring first (8-2). Rangers winger Martin St. Louis has scored the game’s first goal an NHL-high three times this postseason, including twice in the last three games (Game 6 vs. PIT, Game 1 vs. MTL).
• Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who stopped 16 of 20 shots before leaving the game at the second intermission, is questionable (lower body) for Game 2. His backup, Peter Budaj, who allowed three power-play goals on eight shots in relief, has one career postseason start (the aforementioned 6-1 loss to OTT in 2013) and is winless in seven career postseason appearances (0-2, 5.10 GAA, .843 save%). However, he is unbeaten in two career regular-season starts for Montreal vs. the Rangers. This season, he shut them out on Oct. 28, 2013, stopping all 27 shots in a surprise start at MSG.
• In their last four games, the Rangers have outscored the Penguins (three games) and Canadiens (Game 1) by a combined 17-5. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has stopped 122 of the 127 shots he has faced during that span. After allowing 27 goals in their first 11 games of the postseason (2.45/game), the Rangers have now allowed 32 goals in 15 games (a playoff-low 2.13/game).
• Since Rangers winger Chris Kreider snapped his team’s 0-for-36 power-play drought in Game 5 vs. PIT, the Rangers are 6/18 (33.3%) with the man advantage. (Defenseman Ryan McDonagh has two of those goals.) In Game 1 vs. MTL, they went 3/7, scoring three PPG in a 3:08 span in the third period. It was the first time they scored three PPG in a playoff game since 2007 (Game 6 loss vs. BUF). Over the last six games, they have also gone 16/16 on the penalty kill.
• In Game 1, Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban led his team in ice time (26:00) and tied for the team lead in shots on goal (three) and blocked shots (four), but had zero points. Subban, who leads all defensemen this postseason in scoring (4-8—12) has no points in his last three games, and only one (a power-play goal late in Game 5 vs. BOS) in his last five games.