MONTREAL — The wake was Friday night. The funeral is Sunday.
In between the two, Martin St. Louis had a job to do, to somehow set aside the powerful emotions that come with burying his mother, France, who died of a heart attack last week, and help ignite his Rangers teammates in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Canadiens.
St. Louis was spot on Saturday, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead just 4:35 into what morphed into a stunning 7-2 blowout of the Canadiens at the Bell Centre, resulting in a 1-0 series advantage entering Monday’s Game 2.
St. Louis took a beautiful backhand crossing pass from Dominic Moore and beat Montreal goalie Carey Price for the critical early lead in a building that is known for being louder than any in the league.
“Big goal, big moment,’’ Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said. “We brought Marty here for that type of situation. He’s such a boost to our team.’’
That, as it’s turned out, has been a two-way street. His Rangers teammates have been family to St. Louis during this difficult time. France St. Louis’ unexpected death, followed by the way the Rangers have rallied around her son, has turned out to be a powerful force for the team.
The Penguins, who led the second-round series 3-1, could not stay with the emotionally charged Rangers in the last series, which ended with the Blueshirts winning three consecutive games to win in seven. On Saturday, the Canadiens felt the same emotional surge from the Rangers and St. Louis.
Several Rangers, including his close friend Brad Richards, joined St. Louis at the wake Friday in Montreal. The entire team is expected to be by his side at the funeral on Sunday.
“The way he’s handled everything is beyond something I can even comprehend,’’ Rangers center Brian Boyle said. “It’s amazing the way he’s handled our team as a leader. That’s why we got Marty. When the trade happened [earlier this season] he instantly became a huge part of this team. We need him for everything he can do — his ability in the ice, his leadership and everything off the ice.’’
It’s been quite a marriage, because St. Louis has turned out to need the Rangers as much as they’ve needed him.
“It’s been a week of emotions,’’ Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. “Playing in the playoffs is so intense … at the same time a teammate [is] trying to go through a rough time, so you try to be there as a support, and it makes you think a lot about a lot of things, not only hockey.’’
It has affected even the so-called enemy, with Canadiens star defenseman P.K. Subban, an Olympic teammate of St. Louis’ in Sochi, said he reached out to him “to offer my condolences.”
“He’s a character guy and to lose a mother is so heart-wrenching,’’ Subban said.
“It’s been very emotional for our whole group, and he’s handled it in an incredible way that probably has helped our team come closer together,’’ Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. “Emotionally for us that is something really strong right now. [Sunday] is going to be a tough day for our group. We need to be there to support him, and we’ll do that and get ready for Monday.’’