N.Y. Rangers top Canadiens to tie series

We needed this for so many reasons.

"It's good but it's a best-of seven-series", Canadiens winger Alexander Radulov said. But it was only a difference maker because the rest of his teammates followed suit with passionate play of their own.

New York Rangers' Marc Staal, right, tries to block a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Paul Byron during the first period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 16, 2017, in New York. How Price, and by extension the Canadiens' defense, weathers that storm in the first period could be an indicator of how this game goes.

Through much of the first two games and essentially all of Game 3, Montreal forced NY into neutral-zone dumps, most of which were cleared easily.

The Rangers came in riding a franchise-worst six-game home postseason losing streak, coming off a disheartening 3-1 loss in Game 3 on Sunday night. The Canadiens noticed the attempts to emulate their style - the Rangers outhit the Canadiens 74-55 in Game 2 and 41-31 in Game 3 - and changed their strategy to include players that would best compete with the Rangers.

More problematic is that the Rangers aren't just flipping the script, they're actively doing more.

"We're not overthinking this game, we know our strengths, we know what we need to do to win and our whole focus is on that", Montreal head coach Claude Julien said. "I kind of risked it, but we had a power play and we're supposed to have that guy in the middle, which we did". It starts with that.

Nash had a chance to double the Rangers' advantage on the power play with 5:39 left in the period, but his rush toward the net took out Price before the puck trickled into the net.

Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello, Jesper Fast, Michael Grabner, Jimmy Vesey were all really good up front. A clearing attempt was thwarted by Ryan McDonagh who promptly sent Nash in all alone on Price.

"It's playoff hockey", Vigneault said, when asked about his team's new emphasis on hitting. Jimmy Vesey made a handsome rush the other way and forced Price to make a superlative toe save to keep the deficit to one goal.

Julien said that's going to start with a comprehensive look at the game footage, and he didn't have to say it's likely going to result in a reinforcement of the importance of managing the puck properly in all three zones. The Canadiens' power play came up empty on three opportunities with two shots on goal and is 2-for-13.

The Edmonton Oilers levelled their series against the San Jose Sharks courtesy of a 2-0 victory. They'd be wise to take a page out of the Rangers' book, who proved how far a few key adjustments can carry you in a playoff series.

The visitors became more aggressive in the third period but struggled to get many legitimate chances at the net.

Jake Allen, Blues - He did not need to make 51 saves like he did in game one, but Allen was again stellar in net for the Blues.

The Rangers felt Radulov's presence all game. "Not too much phases him".

NY found a breakthrough 11:39 into the game when Jesper Fast weaved his way to the front of the Montreal goal and stuffed home a backhanded chance through Price to blow the roof off Madison Square Garden. They had some chances, none better than first-period breakaways for Torrey Mitchell and Andrew Shaw, but they fell woefully short. After a pretty passing play, Mitchell converted Weber's pass to tie the game 1-1. With the Rangers leading 3-2 in the final seconds, Tomas Plekanec scored the tying goal after defenseman Nick Holden broke his stick while slashing Plekanec and was unable to prevent the winning deflection from near the crease.