Make it 21 straight years with no Canadian Stanley Cup Champion. The Montreal Canadiens were eliminated last night in a game they very easily could have won had they capitalized on their early opportunities.

I felt like the Canadiens owned the first period. They really had the look of the team that wouldn't go away in round two. Then the first intermission came and they had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. It was all downhill from there.

The Rangers took over in the second period getting the game's only goal from Dominic Moore. Then in the third they put it into lockdown.

The Canadiens did have a late flurry with the net empty but they really couldn't find a way to get the puck to the net.

I figured that having to go to Dustin Tokarski would be the downfall for the Canadiens in this series but that certainly wasn't the case. Tokarski wasn't the reason Montreal lost. It is entirely possible that they steal another game or two with Carey Price in goal but Tokarski was pretty solid. The Rangers just had a better squad.

Now that the Canadiens have been eliminated they will face some real questions. 

Just how much will they spend to bring back PK Subban? 

Can they afford to bring back veterans like Andrei Markov and Brian Gionta (to name a couple)? 

If Markov is back (and presumably he will be), can they get another healthy season out of him?

*

With the Rangers moving on I am one step closer to hitting on my Rangers to win the Cup bet. I got them at 20/1 before the playoffs began. I'll likely hedge before the Final begins but I wouldn't mind being on the Rangers bandwagon a while longer. It's been a pretty good time.

The Rangers explicitly do not touch the Prince of Wales Trophy:

The Benoit Pouliot – Derick Brassard – Mats Zuccarello line was just brilliant last night and really has been great all season. Of all the free agents the Rangers have this offseason those are the three they really ought to re-sign.

Henrik Lundqvist had himself a great bounce-back game. You had to figure he would as he has been dialed in all playoffs and is arguably the best goalie in the land. One thing I look for when Lundqvist has it dialed is when he starts making saves with his head intentionally. He had a slick flick out of play in the third period.

Lundqvist with a spinning blocker save:

Sean McIndoe looks at how the Rangers got to this point:

The robbery: Ryan McDonagh

Sorry, Habs fans. We have to talk about it.

I'd honestly completely forgotten about that wrinkle in the series. Can you imagine what a powerhouse the Canadiens would be with McDonagh on that blueline?

And how far would the Rangers have made it without McDonagh? I'm not sure they'd even be a playoff team or if they were they'd have been cannon fodder for someone. But they do have McDonagh who recorded his 13^th point of the playoffs.

What do you think McDonagh's upside is?

I think in the perfect situation McDonagh could probably hit 60. What would that perfect situation be? One of the Pennsylvania teams for sure. But since the odds of either Penguins or Flyers acquiring McDonagh in his prime lie in the margin between slim and none it's safe to say we won't see that 60-point upside. In New York, I can see 50+. Just not 60.

McIndoe also examines 20 levels of Montreal Canadiens controversy.

*

Apparently Dave Bolland wants to finish his career as a Leaf.

*

Elliotte Friedman with some interesting digs in his latest 30 Thoughts.

27. Here’s another one. Going through Cam Ward‘s history, he had a 1.99 goals-against average for the AHL Lowell Lock Monsters in 2004-05. That was a split club as Carolina shared the roster with Calgary. The Flames goalie coach back then was David Marcoux. I’m probably overthinking this, but you’re always told to look for the connections.

I really don't think that you could get me to buy into Ward at this point. If you get him for free, then sure but you better have other options all the same. Even at his best Ward was only an average goaltender.

*

Katie Baker discusses the Blackhawks-Kings double-OT classic from earlier this week.

*

Interesting look at the psychology of goalies by Dave and Jim Cameron.

*

You can follow me on Twitter @SteveLaidlaw.