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MONTREAL -- With all the sadness around the New York Rangers these days, winning a laugher may have been just what they needed. Matt Calvert Avalanche Jersey . Martin St. Louis, who is to attend his mothers funeral with his teammates on Sunday, got the opening goal as seven different Rangers scored and Henrik Lundqvist broke his Bell Centre jinx in a 7-2 rout of the Montreal Canadiens to open the NHL Eastern Conference final on Saturday afternoon. Game 2 is set for Monday night in Montreal. "It was an emotional time for everyone, but the guys have been behind me and supported me," said St. Louis, who got a long ovation from Montreal fans when he was named the games first star. "My teammates are behind me and supporting me and their effort was unbelievable. "We feel really close right now and were trying to keep feeding off that." Coach Alain Vigneault said his team is trying to support St. Louis and stay focused on playing a sound team game at the same time. "Emotionally, for us, that is something really strong right now," said Vigneault. "I know quite a few of our guys went to the wake (on Friday), and I texted with Marty last night to make sure that everything was good. "Its been very emotional for our whole group, and hes handled it in an incredible way that probably has helped our team come closer together. (Sunday) is going to be a tough day for our group. We need to be there to support him, and well do that and get ready for Monday." The quick-footed Rangers, coming off a comeback, seven-game win over Pittsburgh in the conference semifinals, jumped on a Montreal side that was flat and mentally absent after its nasty, emotional seven-game win over first-place overall Boston. Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Brad Richards, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan and Rick Nash, with his first of the playoffs, also scored for the Rangers, a team that had scored only four goals in its last nine regular-season visits to the Bell Centre. "You dont look at the score," said Richards. "Thats not indicative of how anythings going to happen in this series. "We got fortunate. We got some bounces. We got some momentum and pucks went in the net. It was a win, thats all it was, and were very aware that its going to be a lot different." New Yorks turnaround against Pittsburgh started when St. Louis returned to the team a day after mother France died suddenly last week. They went on to win three games in a row to erase a 3-1 series deficit. The 38-year-old has played inspired hockey since then, and his teammates have rallied behind him. Playing in his home town, only 4:35 into Game 1 St. Louis found an unguarded spot near the Montreal net and put Dominic Moores pass into an open side behind Carey Price, who had a night to forget. The Montreal goaltender looked to have hurt his right leg early in the second period when Kreider slid into him after shooting wide on a breakaway. He stayed in the game, but was pulled after giving up two goals late in the second frame. Coach Michel Therrien said Price was not injured, but was replaced by Peter Budaj simply because the team was playing so poorly there was no point in leaving him in. "We got our (backsides) kicked all over the ice," said Montreal left-winger Rene Bourque, who had a goal but took three minor penalties. "Theres really no other way to explain it. "Good thing its a seven-game series and we have a chance to get back in it on Monday. I think we had a little bit of an emotional letdown after the Boston series. We talked about that to going into the game. Obviously it didnt click. We have to just forget about this game." Lars Eller also scored for Montreal. The Rangers poured on goals even though one of their best forwards in the playoffs, Derick Brassard, left after only his second shift early in the game after a hit by Mike Weaver. He appeared to be favouring a shoulder, but Vigneault would only say that his condition is day-to-day. Otherwise, everything went right for New York, including the play of Moore, a fourth-liner who moved into Brassards spot. For one, Nash finally got a goal in New Yorks 15th game of the post-season, which must have been a relief for a top-line player who had been booed at home for his lack of production. "Were all happy to see Nasher score because hes taken a lot of heat," said Richards. "Thats a little weight off his back, but really, it doesnt matter. "We won the game. When youre in the playoffs, when its 7-1, no ones jumping up and down about who scored goals. We won as a team, weve got a good start and were going to move on to Game 2." The struggling power play went 3 for 7, matching its goal total from its previous 29 chances in these playoffs. And Lundqvist finally won in Montreal. The goalie known as King Henrik had not played a game at the Bell Centre since allowing four goals on Jan. 15, 2012. His last win there was March 17, 2009. He didnt appear to be in top form, but he didnt need to be as Montreal managed only 22 shots. "I felt good coming into the game," said Lundqvist. "We havent won too many games in this building so its a great start." The Canadiens will try to regroup after their worst playoff defeat since losing 8-2 to Carolina in 2002. "You dont need to make many adjustments (for Game 2) when you are not ready mentally," said Therrien. "You have no chance to win in that situation. "There were a lot of mental errors." Budaj was beaten on his first shot, a bullet from the slot by McDonagh on a power play at 1:28. The frustrated Canadiens then took a succession of penalties, including two minors and a misconduct to former Ranger Brandon Prust. Stepan scored and then Nash put one in from the slot. Montreal got one back while shorthanded with 4:38 left in the game when Eller beat Lundqvist with a quick, high shot from the slot. "We talked about getting pucks behind them and work the puck and we did a good job of that," said McDonagh, who also had three assists. The boost the Canadiens got from their rousing pre-game ceremonies in the first two series wasnt there as the Rangers showed all the speed and intensity in the opening frame, outshooting Montreal 12-6 and taking a 2-0 lead. Moore jumped on a loose puck after Michael Bournival partially blocked a point shot and slipped a pass to a wide open St. Louis at the doorstep to open the scoring at 4:35. Moore was the playmaker again as he slid a pass in front of the net and the trailing Zuccarrello was able to poke it into an open side as New York beat Price twice on their first five shots. Bourque took consecutive hooking calls late in the first period, but made up for it in the second as he went hard to the net, whacked at Brian Giontas pass and saw it go in off McDonaghs stick at 12:38. Montreals push-back brought the 21,273 at the Bell Centre back to life, but they went quiet again as Stepan broke in alone on the left side and beat Price with a low shot at 18:59. With 11.6 seconds left in the period, Zuccarello made a sweet reverse pass that had Price out of position for Richards to score into an open side. "They were really coming at us there," said McDonagh. "You get some fortunate clears and good finishing plays by the guys up front. It was a big change of momentum for sure, because they were really flying." Tyson Jost Jersey . They were right in that they responded to coach Randy Carlyles goaltending switch to erase a two-goal deficit. Anton Lindholm Avalanche Jersey . - The Pittsburgh Pirates plan on keeping promising left fielder Starling Marte playing alongside National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for years to come. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic-adam-foote-avalanche-jersey/ . You can, too, Clay Buchholz, if we ignore the sixth inning of Game 2. Doug Fister and Jake Peavy, youre up next in Game 4 and theres a lot to live up to.SOCHI, Russia -- Martin St. Louis is going to get a chance to represent his country at the Winter Olympics after all. Hockey Canada announced today that the 38-year-old Tampa Bay forward will replace injured Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos on Canadas mens hockey team at the Sochi Olympics. "I heard from Stammer that he wasnt going to go, so I knew it was a possibility," St. Louis told reporters in Tampa on Thursday. "So I guess I was prepared for it." St. Louis said he felt bad for Stamkos, who tried hard to come back from a broken right tibia he suffered in a Nov. 11 NHL game before being ruled out of Olympic competition by the Lightnings medical staff on Wednesday. "I think weve got to understand how hard hes tried and worked to put himself in the position hes in and give himself a chance," St. Louis said. "Obviously hes disappointed and Im disappointed for him. Stammers a true professional and hes done everything he can this past month to get back to the lightning first and hopefully to Team Canada." St. Louis was considered one of Canadas most surprising snubs when Canadas team was first announced, along with Philadelphia forward Claude Giroux and Pittsburgh forward James Neal. The Laval, Que., native led the league in points in the 2012-13 shortened season with 17 goals and 43 assists in 48 games. He is having another strong campaign in 2013-14 with 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 56 games, good for 11th in the league. "I dont see this as Marty replacing me, I see it as Marty deserving a spot on this team and going over and hopefully bringing back a gold medal," said Stamkos in the same news conference. St. Louis has won two World Championsship silver medals for Canada over his career. John Wensink Avalanche Jersey. He played in the 2006 Turin Olympics, scoring two goals and an assist in Canadas disappointing seventh-place finish. St. Louis went on a 10-game point streak (eight goals, six assists) for the Lightning after first being left off Canadas team, announced on Jan. 7. He said the snub had nothing to do with his increased production, but his play of late might have given him the edge over Giroux and Neal. "I dont think its motivation. Ive been motivated the past four years ... the past 10 years. If youre not motivated, youre not even considered for these things. His speed could be a benefit to Canada, which has struggled in the Olympics when playing on the larger international ice surface. Canada won gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver in 2010 playing in NHL-style arenas, but was left off the podium in Nagano, Japan in 1998 and Turin, Italy in 2006. "Obviously its a bigger ice surface. It think my quickness, my speed ... thats what Im going to rely on," St. Louis said. "Its a different game, but I think whatever game plan we come up with, its going to be well thought-out." Stamkos is confident that his teammate can fill any position on Team Canada. "Hes going to go over there and play whatever role possible. I personally think hes going to play a big role," said Stamkos. "The character that he has, the way hes played in big-game situations in the past. I mean, hes won individual awards, hes won the team championships, hes been in those situations. "Its not like its a young guy thats never been in these situations before filling in for someone. This is a guy who can step in and play any role asked." ' ' '