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Rangers punch ticket to Stanley Cup Final by blanking Habs

Montreal Canadiens v New York Rangers - Game Six

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 29: Dominic Moore #28 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal at 18:07 against the Montreal Canadiens during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final in the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The New York Rangers are going to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final after a fantastic all-around effort in defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 6.

That score might honestly be a little misleading. The Rangers limited the Canadiens to 18 shots on goal, including just five apiece in the first and third period. The Habs have a lot to build on in the future, yet they went out with a whimper ... or at least couldn’t overcome a smothering performance from the Rangers.

A measured Game 6

After two nights of wild action, the Rangers and Canadiens played a tighter, more focused game. New York really carried the play in the first period, out-shooting the Habs 11-5 in the opening frame. The Rangers dominated puck possession for big stretches of Game 6 even if the scoreboard didn’t really illustrate that point.

Oddly enough, the Rangers took a lead in the period that was most even in overall play. Henrik Lundqvist made a save that seemed straight out of “The Matrix.”

... Opening up the door for Dominic Moore to score the 1-0 goal:

Lundqvist stopped all shots in gaining his 42nd career playoff win, setting a new franchise record. No doubt about it, “King Henrik” wants to chase down Mike Richter by winning a Stanley Cup of his own, though.

Montreal failed to mount much of an attack in the third period. Really, the Rangers actually seemed like the team with its postseason on the line. Maybe they felt that way as going through a third Game 7 - in Montreal, no less - would be taxing to say the least.

They avoided that tension-filled scenario and now await either the Chicago Blackhawks or Los Angeles Kings. They’ll likely be the underdog in either scenario, yet it would be foolish to count a Rangers team that clearly has a lot of fight left.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins