Montreal beat Boston 4-0 to force a Game 7 on Wednesday night. The Canadiens never looked in danger of losing this one, jumping on the Bruins right away.

Max Pacioretty scored his first goal of the series and also added an assist to go along with three shots. He and David Desharnais had gone dry against Boston, so credit the Montreal depth for picking up the slack.

I still can't believe how little it took to get Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline. He had another two goals on Monday night, giving him four in the series and eight points now for the playoffs. I suppose some general managers would have been concerned he was going to end up being a rental, but for a prospect and a second-round pick, it was surely worth it for the Canadiens. If you believe your team is close to the Stanley Cup and you can add a player of Vanek's ability for that price, you have to do it.

Nathan Beaulieu played his first game of these playoffs on Monday and made the most of his 9-plus minutes of ice-time. Beaulieu notched an assist and finished plus-2, while making a key blocked shot that he somehow didn't seem to get credit for. He played just 17 games on the season, but I think he cracks the squad full-time next year.

Carey Price grabbed his fourth career playoff shutout and they've all come against the Bruins. Price's dominance over the Bruins and Rask's struggles against the Canadiens are peculiar, but what better time for the Boston netminder to make a statement in Game 7. Who do you folks have winning it Wednesday?

Desharnais may be having trouble finding the back of the net in this series, but he certainly saved a goal on Monday.

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So what's up with David Krejci in these playoffs? He has still yet to score and has managed just three assists. One thing I noticed on Monday was the fact that he seems to be forcing the passes a little too often when he could have taken a shot. Part of the problem could be Price, who looks to be stopping everything he sees, so the Bruins seem to be trying to wait for the perfect shot. Krejci has always been a pass first guy, but playing with Iginla he looks to be trying to find his winger more than necessary. Sometimes you just have to be selfish and shoot.

Brad Marchand is another Bruin who hasn't scored in these playoffs after getting 25 in the regular season. He doesn't look to be playing with the same tenacity in these playoffs as usual. It just goes to show you how deep this team is, though, when Krejci and Marchand have been held in check and they're still a game away from the Conference Finals.

Speaking of not playing with his usual tenacity, I rarely agree with Don Cherry, but what he said after the game about Zdeno Chara was actually accurate. He hasn't looked like himself in these playoffs, perhaps because of all the minutes he plays throughout the year, the Olympics, etc. Whatever it is, he looked fired up in the final minute after being tripped by Andrei Markov. That could be bad news for Montreal in Game 7.

Dougie Hamilton has cooled off a bit with one point in his last four games. Still, he's had a great postseason and showed he's capable of handling more responsibility. Watch out for him in 2014-15.

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The Ducks held on for a 4-3 win over the Kings.

John Gibson had another strong performance, making 39 stops after posting a shutout in Game 4. At this point it looks like Hiller’s going to be gone in the summer, but who gets the starting job next year, Gibson or Andersen? Has Gibson done enough in a short amount of time to earn the starting job? My guess would be Bruce Boudreau rotates the two to see if someone can claim the starting job, but ultimately it will probably Gibson’s sooner rather than later.

Devante Smith-Pelly had a pair of goals to give him three in his last two games. He also had two big goals in the clinching game against the Stars. Smith-Pelly’s performance likely will land him a full-time spot with the Ducks next year after playing just 19 games in 2013-14, so keep an eye on him for your leagues.

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I mentioned Vanek as a solid deadline addition, but you could say the same about Marian Gaborik. He had another two goals to give him a playoff-leading eight. If they can re-sign him this summer it will be a big bonus.

Mike Richards was minus-2 and played less than 10 minutes. After a brutal season the playoffs haven’t been any better.  

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One person I forgot to mention in the recent write up on Peter Laviolette taking over the Nashville Predators job was Colin Wilson. He played much of the season last year with Patric Hornqvist and Mike Fisher, who both closed the season out on fairly impressive runs. With Laviolette's up-tempo style, that line has a chance to be dangerous. Wilson would certainly be someone to look at drafting next season. With Barry Trotz now gone, the Preds should be a team to follow more closely for waiver additions in 2014-15.

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Tomas Hertl scored against Canada at the World Hockey Championships on Monday. The San Jose Sharks will be a team to keep a close eye on this summer as far as roster moves. If they decide to make a major culture change and move some of their veterans, Hertl could be the major benefactor. Right now Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau still have their handprints firmly on the team, but the future makeup of the franchise is with Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Hertl, the Sharks just have to decide when to turn over the keys to them.

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Dion Phaneuf's name is getting more and buzz regarding a possible trade lately. With the team hanging on to Randy Carlyle, you have to think that means changes in other areas. The only other spot they can tinker with is obviously the roster. Some rumors have a few Western Conference teams being interested and the Edmonton Oilers would be a logical fit. The Oilers have a lot of talented forwards they could dangle in a trade, but it seems like the Leafs' biggest need is on the blue line anyway. And if they do indeed trade Phaneuf, who replaces him? And who eats up all his minutes? Not to mention that trading that contract won't be easy.

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On a brighter note for Leaf fans, Jonathan Bernier, Carl Gunnarsson, and Joffrey Lupul are healing well from injuries.

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Roman Horak is heading for the KHL. Horak had some potential, proving to be a 20-lus goal scorer in both junior and the American Hockey League, but it's tough earning ice-time among that vast group of young Oiler forwards.

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Sean McIndoe looks at players struggling in the playoffs.

Michael Amato is an Associate Editor for DobberHockey and a News Editor for theScore. You can follow him on Twitter at @amato_mike