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Team gave a great effort, ran out of energy and lost in overtime. Could of went either way but the series is far from over. Is there any voice of reason on this pathetic hockey forum? Let's make magical trades and bring in Stamkos and Crosby for Carr and Ott and then trade Pacioretty for a bag of shyte because didn't score all those goals over the years - that was a mass illusion. Coming here and reading these negative comments from spoiled brats that think they know anything puts a real downer on being a Habs fan. You want a dominant team that is a cup favourite every year? Quite simple. Tank for about 6/7 years, collect the best players available at the draft and go from there. Is that what you want? A whole bunch of you need a reality check like you wouldn't believe. Either that or you're a bunch of 12 yr olds that need more t!tty time from mommy.

Yep, and by this fan logic, that makes DD a better player. We should have traded Patches for Davidson and kept DD

This series has basically been a coin flip through five games. Though it's certainly disappointing with the outcome tonight, there's little reason to think this won't be another close game on Saturday. The Habs have already won there once this series and the Rangers aren't a great home team. They're not out of it yet.

Orrrrr... Habs will win 2 games back to back like they did once this series and go to the second round.

I used to care that Koivu and Souray would go drinking after a loss with Naslund and Bertuzzi. Now I realize how silly it is to worry about that stuff. After the DARKEST DAY IN HABS HISTORY it's clear just how petty that stuff is. Also when a veteran wants a young player gone for behaviour it always backfires in the team's face. Pronger allegedly wanted Carter and Richards gone from Philly. Chara allegedly wanted Seguin and Hamilton off Boston. Sure has worked out for the Flyers and Bruins eh?

Cuke, I agree that there are a lot of problems that are beyond Pacioretty about the team. And maybe it sounds unfair to want Pacioretty to play differently from his game. But his game is not working. And if you shoot the puck 24 times the way it usually goes in and it doesn't, you are just the definition of insanity. The real problem I think is Pacioretty shouldn't be the captain and star of the offence. There should be someone with more responsibility than him. Look at Kessel in Pittsburgh or Phaneuf in Ottawa. That'll eventually be Patches. He was given too much responsibility here, he will one day go play for another team and not be expected to be the star. Maybe if Radu signs long term that can still be the case. I just want Pacioretty to look like this is the playoffs and not just another game.

Hes getting good shots and lots of them.. from good areas on the ice and his line is controlling play. Not much more a guy can do. If you get great chances and take good shots and the goalie is stopping them... what more are you going to do. Just saying he needs to score is a cop out. It doesnt work like that. You cant just say score more and the puck goes in now.

I agree with you and Habs29 that Galy has not been handled properly. I don't know how 'coachable' he is - perhaps not very - but I also think he lacks confidence. And the worst thing you can do with someone who lacks confidence is play mind games with them, take a 'tough love' approach, etc.. Sticking a guy like that with plumbers is only going to make things worse. If this is right, then the lead-up to the playoffs should have been about putting Galy in a positions to produce offensively, getting him rolling so the team would have the extra offensive element that it so desperately needs. Instead Julien took the 'bullying' approach: do X or play with Dwight King. The result is that the kid looks as lost as I've ever seen him. On Pacioretty, look, he is not especially likeable or charismatic. I don't have any strong feelings about him beyond what he does on the ice. I'm defending him because my 'eye test' tells me that he has been performing well, and every bit of information except the 'goals scored' column seems to back that up. This isn't about me having a man-crush on the guy. He's brought his 'A' game, it's just not going in. (And it may help to remember here what Max's 'A' game is. He is not a net-crashing power forward, which seems to be what everyone suddenly expects him to be. He is a strong-skating goal scorer who rushes the puck and is responsible defensively). If nobody on his line is screening the net, is that his fault? 'It's the first talking point in the hockey world' because people are just looking at the goose-egg and NOT looking at the play on the ice. In other words, it's an easy story-line. I don't pay any attention to that HNIC crap - those guys are morons.

I'm sick and tired of getting heat from Rangers fans here in CT. Ive been wearing my bleu blanc rouge proudly even though it's bad for my business. Make me proud damn it!!

agreed...(like...Chucky? about two months ago)...Shaw has been involved yes, but I thought he was going to be more of a factor...he's just been ..meh...

I understand the negativity about this game, but it's overblown. This team completely dominated the Rangers for two periods. But they couldn't get that third goal, and when the Rags went into the third period all tied up, well...I've seen that movie many times. The Rangers knew they were in a position to steal one, and they made no mistake. In terms of the Rangers' control in the third and OT, a lot of that had to do with the jolt of energy, the charge you get from realizing that you're on the cusp of highway robbery - along with the Habs being deflated after that goal late in the 2nd. Also, coaching; AV made some adjustments - and that too is normal. Rarely do you see any team dominate from start to finish, especially in the playoffs; and part of the reason is that coaches make adjustments, As for negativity, I do have one thing to complain about. Alex Galchenyuk. This was a game where the team really, really, REALLY needed its most talented, torpedo-like forward to do something. It didn't need to be 20 minutes of incredible play. Just something. We needed him to generate offence. Patches did all he could, Radu tried hard, the Gally line dominated the first half. The missing ingredient was Galchenyuk. Now in terms of the future... While we could still go into MSG and win, I can't help but feel that I'm not going to see the Habs win the Cup for a looooooong time. I continue to believe that this season is the best chance they are apt to have for the foreseeable future. This core is aging and this year's matchups are basically ideal, and we're 100% healthy, yet we're staring a first-round exit full in the face. It doesn't look good.

I think we're a lot happier after wins.

It's always too expensive for Bergevin to do his job.

It was too obvious. Still have hopes for the game now that that is out of the way though.......

the word on the street (in Montreal) is that Chucky loves his Crescent street bars, women, and booze; and not necessarily in that order. Based on MB's need for "character" players, It wouldn't surprise me if he's not back next year. Whether you love him or hate him, this is Max's team right now... make no mistake about it. Chucky isn't playing with Max because Max doesn't want him to...Why did DD play with Max? because of Max ..PD is playing with him, because (you guessed it!!) Max wants him to. When Chucky centers Max, its harder for him...he has to chase the puck more AND cover up for Chucky's mistakes (which are many and often). Anyway, this is our team and, aside from the Chucky drama, we knew going in that this team has more holes than swiss cheese. The good news ? So does every other team in the league...even the mighty Pens (eventually Fleury will let them down). New York, Boston, Ottawa, Toronto, etal...all have problems. Look, Chicago was knocked out in 4 straight...should Toews be tarred and feathered? This series is going 7 games...and hopefully OUR team (warts, holes and all) wins game 7.

Two years as Captain. Zero years of leading.

They shot their load in the second period. They needed a couple of goals that didn't materialize. From the midway point, the Rangers had the run of play and in OT, the Habs were all done. Don't want to start the post-mortem too early, but Movie Max, Galchenyuk, a lack of a real offensive center killed this team. Their best players aren't the type to get it done, and guys who probably could win a cup at some point like Markov and Weber are just too old. Bergevin gets fired at the end of next year.

In my heart, I knew Max would not score. I didn't even get a bit excited on that break. I would have had butterflies if it had been Ott even.

Does anybody else notice how the powerplay is more dangerous when he captain is on the bench?

Not feeling good about this game and if they lose this one,,,season's over. New York is playing rope a dope with them and it's working. Time for a line shuffle.

Same old post game interview with the captain.

Chicago has all kinds of scoring centers. How's that working out for them? Playoffs require blood and guts. our team does not have it.

Pacs is playing soft. He is taking perimeter shots but refusing to get to the dirty areas. He isn't back checking with any pressure. He is floating around looking for easy stick checks. Sure, one of those led to a goal, but had he missed getting the puck he was pretty much out of the play. Most of the little guys are hounding players, chasing down the puck carrier, and working hard on the boards. Pacs simply isn't.

I'm not holding that against him though, because that's always been his game...he's never been a hard worker along the boards, and he seldom has the guts to cut to the middle. My problem is that he can't put the puck in the net, and the constant droning about "he has x number of shots, so it's not his fault" is starting to get sickening. The Max Pac apologists are acting as if Ludqvist is absolutely robbing Max on almost every shot with a near impossible highlight reel save, and that's just not the case. Most of what Max is throwing at him is a routine save that he barely has to move on. When you are a supposed 'elite scorer' you have to bury the odd puck with incredible puck placement and velocity that defies anything the goaltender can do to try to stop it....I see Ovechkin, Kessel, ect doing it...Max is not. Enough excuses. The teams who have their 'top guys' delivering are advancing to the next round, and the teams getting goose eggs from those guys are not...bottom line. (And this isn't all on Max...Bergevin's failure to upgrade at center, and to get any scoring help at the deadline should loom large with the owner should this team get bounced this round)

Holy whining Batman!

don't get me started on the facking petri dish experiments on this kid...a lobotomy is next

Spoiled brats? The team hasn't been to the Cup in 25 years, and they haven't been a serious contender in decades. They're five years into a quasi-rebuild and it's almost time to go back to the drawing board. The fans of this pathetic franchise have plenty to complain about, especially given how much the Molsons make off of us. We want some results, and after a quarter century anybody who's content with the status quo deserves to root for the Maple Leafs.

Bums. Captain Useless delivers absolutely nothing again, and the rest of them stopped skating in OT. This is not a contender...might as well bow out now. I fear Ottawa would embarrass this bunch.

I don't even want to hear the Pacioretty apologists start their crap now...HE DOES NOT PRODUCE...PERIOD Screw his shots on net...the whole point is ZERO went in, and he does nothing else worth a damn on the ice. That is the difference in a series like this...your top scorer getting at least ONE LOUSY GOAL to turn the tide in a close game. He didn't....almost never does. This team won't ever contend with him as their leader. Traded away the wrong guy last summer.

Captain obvious strikes again in an interview. There is always next year

Best thing that can happen is that they get absolutely blown out in a shutout next game in New York. Bad enough that Molson rages and fires MB, and brings in someone with the guts to do a serious makeover that features some scoring. This current model, even with Price, can't contend.

Not even going to bother bashing Maxi Pad Max; just came here to say for those of you that strongly opposed my thread on whether or not he is a real leader, the writing is on the wall now, give your damn heads a shake. Had absolutely 0 faith in this team from the beginning of the season with such a passive loser as a leader. heres to hoping we don't hear the name Markov, Plekanec, Beaulieu, or Davidson next season. stick a fork in em, they're finished, and even if they muster a comeback, they will get walloped next round.