This is not good if you are a Montreal Canadiens fan. The Habs suffered a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers which means those same Rangers are now tapping them on the shoulder and asking "Mind if I cut in?" to the post-season.
Chris Drury led the way with 2 goals for New York and Carey Price was peppered with 44 shots showing a lack of defensive prowess on the Habs side. The Canadiens could only muster 25 shots on Rangers goalie Henrik Lundquist. Montreal had 11 shots in the 1st period and could only hit Lundquist 14 more times in the final 40 minutes. Meanwhile Price was looking a little the worse for wear and decidedly unready for the game. He's been off sick for several games and his play left many Habs fans feeling a little queasy.
The vaunted Montreal power play was no where to be seen as each team was penalized 3 times and Montreal had to cope with defensemen Schneider and Markov quarterbacking on the power play as both are out (Schneider likely done time October and Markov a maybe if the Habs make it to the 2nd round. One commentator expressed such shock at the spotty play of the Canadiens, he questioned if they would even make it to the 1st round.
Montreal plays the Bruins (they'll be tough after a close loss to the Senators) and then the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins. The Habs sit one point up on the Rangers and 3 up on the Florida Panthers who both have 2 games left. If both win their remaining games and Montreal is kept from getting one of a possible four remaining points, Montreals' glorious 100th year hopes will blow away like dust in the wind.
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