By PAT HICKEY, The Montreal Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/
May 11, 2010 3:03 AM
Maxim Lapierre scored an unassisted goal for the Canadiens against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, but he shared the credit with his linemates.
"It was my teammates who went to the net and opened up a lane for me,' said Lapierre, who picked up the puck in the neutral zone, skated around Alex Goligoski and beat Marc-André Fleury with a shot from six feet out. "Everybody went (toward the goal) and he (Fleury) couldn't see anything." Lapierre's willingness to share the credit with Tom Pyatt and Dominic Moore fit the theme of togetherness in the Canadiens' dressing after they tied the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal at three games apiece.
MONTREAL- MAY 10: Maxim Lapierre(notes) #40 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his third-period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with teammates in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 10, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Penguins 4-3 tying the series 3-3. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)"I don't score goals like that," said Lapierre, who is best-known for getting under the skin of opposing players. "Normally, it's from behind the net or on a flip shot, so that one was big for the confidence." "It's a team thing," he said of the Canadiens' effort. "It's everybody playing really good tonight. It might have been a big goal, but if (goaltender Jaroslav) Halak's not making the saves and (Michael) Cammalleri doesn't score two goals, I don't have a chance to look good. We had (Jaroslav) Spacek back in the lineup and he looked like he was 18 years old again. He did a great job tonight." Cammalleri, who is the leading goal-scorer in the playoffs with 11, gave the Canadiens a fast start when he scored at 1:13 of the first period.
"The key is to prepare yourself, mostly mentally, before the game," Cammalleri said when asked about scoring early. "Things happen so quick early in the game. For instance, the other night in Pittsburgh, I had my best chance on the first shift and I don't think I was ready." Cammalleri said it was a good feeling to score two goals but "I try not to sit and dwell on things like that. We need goals right now, but nothing matters up until now. All that matters is how you prepare for Game 7." This was the fourth time in this year's playoffs that the Canadiens have faced elimination.
"We were down 3-1 against Washington and we were down 3-2 in this series, but this team doesn't give up," said Halak, who stopped 34 of 37 shots. "We're going to Pittsburgh and, once again, it's us or them. It's do-or-die for both teams and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a great game." In doling out praise after the game, head coach Jacques Martin said the win started with Halak.
"He kept us in early in the second period when we had some penalty trouble,' Martin said. "He made some big saves to keep the score 2-1 and that was the key, because it allowed us to regain our composure and go back on the attack and regain the lead." Martin also praised Andrei Kostitsyn, who collected two assists and played his strongest game in the playoffs.
"We've been critical of Andrei Kostitsyn, but tonight he gave us a strong game," Martin said. "I know Cammalleri finished the plays, but I think Andrei made big plays on both of his goals." Rookie defenceman P.K. Subban didn't make the scoresheet, but he continues to improve with every game. He played a game-high 29:11 with action on the power play and the penalty-kill. He also found himself matched up against Sidney Crosby and finished with the upper hand. Subban wasn't on the ice when Crosby scored his first goal of the series and he was held to two shots for the rest of the game.
"You never know what's going to come your way," said Subban, who was in Hamilton two weeks ago. "Everybody plays for the opportunity and you prepare yourself for it when it comes. Today, we played a great team game.
"The more experience you have in those situations, the better you're going to be," Subban said of tomorrow's deciding game. "I'd hate to be in the league 10 years and be facing my first Game 7."
First Star: Michael Cammalleri scored two goals and is the playoff leader with 11.
Second Star: P.K. Subban played a game-high 29:11 and more than held his own against Sidney Crosby.
Third Star: Jaroslav Halak added to his impressive stats by stopping 34 of 37 shots.
Key Number: 7. Games it will take to decide this Eastern Coference semifinal.
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