MONTREAL — Let the Campaign of Kindness continue.
On the eve of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault did all he could to praise the Canadiens and not allow them to play the “disrespect” card for yet another series.
Following Friday’s practice in Westchester before boarding a flight north, Vigneault said the Canadiens were “rightfully .. the favorites” in the series — oddsmakers agree — and the Habs went into their second-round series against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins “saying that Boston didn’t respect them.”
Vigneault then took a small pause, drew a deep breath, and delivered his evaluation.
“We respect Montreal quite a bit,” he said. “We know they’re not only a really strong team, but they’re a team that has beaten the No. 1 team in the NHL and a [Bruins] team that went to the Stanley Cup finals last year. A [Bruins] team that beat the New York Rangers in five games last year.
“So we know we have our hands full.”
The Bruins did indeed whoop up on the Rangers in the second round last season, but that was a far different team, with a far different man behind the bench in John Tortorella. This Rangers team has taken on the personality of its new coach — cool, calm and professional, almost to an extreme.
And he is not about to give Montreal any extra motivation.
“Theoretically, they’re expected to win,” Vigneault said. “Pressure does funny things to different people. I’m anxious to see how they’re going to react. Both teams are obviously looking forward to this series, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
***
Rangers winger Martin St. Louis was not at Friday’s practice, as he went back to his native Montreal to attend the wake of his mother, France, who died on May 8. The funeral is schedule for Sunday afternoon, between Games 1 and 2, with the entire Rangers team planning to attend. At the request of the St. Louis family, all services will be private.