Rick Nash's tie-breaking goal early in the second period lifted the New York Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals Tuesday night.
"I thought our guys were really focused from start to finish".
"In 2017 in the playoffs we've had one loss (at home)", Vigneault said.
Montreal leads the best-of-seven set 2-1.
Carey Price stopped 32 of the 34 shots against him for Montreal but was far from his best in Game 4.
"He got a lot of wood on it", said Price, who made 29 saves in defeat.
While the Montreal Canadiens have a chance to put NY on the brink of elimination, the Rangers are keeping a positive focus knowing that a win could alter the series. While New York's defence pairs remained the same as Games 1 and 2, the forward units were reconfigured.
Montreal fired 31 shots on New York's Henrik Lundqvist, who recorded his 10th career playoff shutout - a record high amongst active National Hockey League goaltenders.
Brady Skjei's goal at 17:04 of the third was New York's lone goal.
Saudis Seek 30 Solar, Wind Projects in $50 Billion Pledge
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels in its impoverished southern neighbor for the past two years. Khaled al-Falih said his country, the world's biggest oil exporter, will also sell renewable energy and its technology overseas .
The Rangers' best chance early came when Oscar Lindberg's shot beat Price, but rang off the right post about 6½ minutes into the first period.
Montreal continued the offensive onslaught they had in the first, as Max Pacioretty and Torrey Mitchell both were stymied by Lundqvist, who was excellent all night long, and often had to bail out the porous NY defence.
The Rangers looked like a completely different team than the one that blew a two-goal lead in Game 2 and were outclassed throughout Game 3. "There is definitely a lot of credit to be given with how well (the Canadiens) are playing, not only without the puck, but with the puck and the decisions they're making". The second man continues to be on them quick, and we've had good pressure and up-ice pressure.
Tomas Plekanec has generated one goal and two assists in three playoff games against NY. In doing so, the Canadiens limited NY to 21 shots. Over the course of the series, Montreal has significant advantages in shots on goal (118-90) and total attempted shots (222-176).
The Canadiens second line of Paul Byron - Tomas Plekanec - Brendan Gallagher was perhaps their best the entire game, causing havoc in New York's zone, with a couple good chances for Byron being snuffed out by Henrik Lundqvist.
Pavelski added his second late on the period to take advantage of Draisaitl's penalty as San Jose converted four of eight power-play chances after going 1 for 14 the first three games. In Game 3, it was much of the same.
"We're definitely fighting it a little bit, to say the least", NY captain Ryan McDonagh said. "We are maybe looking to extend our plays a little bit and it's costing us scoring opportunities". He shielded the puck from the Rangers' Kevin Hayes and, with one hand on his stick, worked the puck around Lundqvist for his second goal of the series to make it 3-0. The Rangers held a full team practice in which rookie right winger Pavel Buchnevich participated in power play drills, although NY coach Alain Vigneault would not reveal if he was contemplating making changes to a stagnant roster. "I had nothing because the (defenceman) was on me and I saw Lundqvist moving on me and I just pulled (the puck) back". That's just the way it goes in the playoffs.
Skjei's goal ended the scoring. Pavelski won an offensive zone faceoff back to Justin Braun and then deflected a point shot past Talbot for his first goal of the series.
Comments