The Canadiens turned their season over to Dustin Tokarski, the 24-year-old goalie who until Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Rangers had never played in the Stanley Cup playoffs and only appeared in seven NHL games in his career.
They appeared to have made the right choice, as Tokarski was outstanding in Montreal’s 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers in Game 3 on Thursday night at the Garden.
“Dustin Tokarski was phenomenal,” Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. “Without Tokarski’s performance, probably the result would have been different.”
Martin St. Louis would no doubt agree, as he was robbed twice by the rookie, who made 35 saves in all in front of a raucous crowd, as he once again played with poise beyond his years.
“I definitely felt a little more comfortable and in control,” Tokarski said of his mind-set in Game 3.
His second-period pad save of St. Louis’ shot from close range that would have given the Blueshirts the lead left St. Louis with no answers. Tokarski did it again with 56 seconds remaining in the third period, again on a point-blank shot from St. Louis. Chris Kreider eventually deflected a puck off Alexei Emelin’s skate and into the net to tie the game with 28.1 seconds remaining.
Tokarski’s heroics helped get the Canadiens back into the series, as they now trail 2-1.
It’s not what the Rangers expected after Montreal lost its starting goalie, Carey Price, for the series with a right knee injury suffered when Kreider slammed into him after being tripped up on a breakaway during Game 1.
Therrien went with the unproven Tokarski over the more experienced Peter Budaj, a decision that looked even better after Thursday.
“He’s a battler,” Therrien said of what led him to go with Tokarski. “The most important thing is he’s a winner.”
Before beating the Rangers, though, virtually all that success came in the minors and in junior international play.
He was quickly tested Thursday, as the Rangers controlled play through much of the first period. The Habs were fortunate to trail just 1-0 after being outshot 14-4.
“We weathered the storm,” Therrien said.
“The first period wasn’t the way we wanted to start,” P.K. Subban said. “When you have goaltending like Dustin gave us, it helps a lot.”
Tokarski gave up a fair number of rebounds, but the Rangers were unable to capitalize.
Therrien said he understood the rookie was in uncharted territory.
“It’s a different pressure when you’re on the road,” Therrien said. “He played really well on the road anytime we asked him to play.”
He did again on Thursday.