Darche nets winner, becomes first McGill grad in 58 years to score in NHL playoffs

BOSTON - Mathieu Darche of St. Laurent, Que., scored the game-winner as Montreal defeated Boston 3-1 to take a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-seven Stanley Cup Eastern Conference quarter-final round, Saturday.

It was Darche's first-ever marker in 13 career post-season contests and the first NHL playoff goal by a former McGill hockey player since 1953 when ex-Redmen Reggie Sinclair and Johnny Peirson tallied for Detroit and Boston, respectively.

Darche is one of five McGill grads currently participating in the NHL playoffs. That group includes head coaches Mike Babcock (Detroit) and Guy Boucher (Tampa Bay), in addition to assistant coaches Martin Raymond (Tampa Bay) and Jamie Kompon (Los Angeles).

The Canadiens scored twice in the game's first 140 seconds as goals by Michael Cammalleri and Darche put Boston in an early hole.

Cammalleri opened the scoring just 43 seconds into the game and Darche made it 2-0 some 91 seconds later on the power play, scoring just six seconds after an interference penalty to Dennis Seidenberg. The former Redmen All-Canadian left-winger raced down the left side to slam home Cammalleri's cross-crease pass.

"We play short term and everybody's thinking about their first shift and we've got all the guys buying into the system, whether it's the first or the fourth line," said Darche, explaining the Habs early flurry of goals. "Guys are blocking shots and let's face it, we've got (goaltender) Carey Price (to rely on) whenever we have breakdowns."

The Canadiens had a solid outing from Price, who turned aside 34 of 35 shots. The Bruins snapped Price's bid for a shutout when Patrice Bergeron cut the deficit to 2-1 at 7:38 of the second period. The Habs regained the two-goal lead when Yannick Weber scored less than 10 minutes later.

The series now shifts to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on April 18 and 21, respectively.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

McGill Athletics & Communications

514-398-7012