MONTREAL — There is no home ice like the Bell Centre.
The Rangers, however, are hoping they can get something even in the same realm when they return to the Garden for Game 3 of their first-round series with the Canadiens on Sunday night. The best-of-seven contest is tied one game apiece after the Habs’ 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 on Friday night.
“Just get over this one and recharge. I look forward to playing in front of our own fans, that’s exciting,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made a career-high 54 saves in Game 2. “We expected this could be a tough series. They’re a good team. That hasn’t changed.”
The Rangers were the best road team in the league during the regular season, but had the worst home record of any of the 16 teams that qualified for the playoffs. It’s something coach Alain Vigneault has tired to dismiss, but if there is any home-ice advantage, the Rangers hope it will show up on Easter Sunday.
“There’s no doubt that playing in front of our fans is going to be good,” Vigneault said, “but at the end of the day, we have to get ready for a hockey game.”
Vigneault is from nearby Quebec City, and he was the head coach of the Canadiens from 1997-2000. So he didn’t try to deny the Rangers soaked in the atmosphere at Bell Centre, including the terrific pregame ceremony with the Canadian national anthem sung by longtime fan favorite, Ginette Reno.
“You’re behind the bench or as a player you’re sitting, and you can feel the vibe,” he said. “For you English people, you don’t know Mrs. Reno very much, but when she comes out and sings it’s fabulous, it’s outstanding. It probably gives you goosebumps a little bit. It’s a great ambiance, a great atmosphere. We’re soaking it in and we’re enjoying it.”
J.T. Miller got into a rare postseason fight, dropping the gloves with behemoth Montreal defenseman Shea Weber at 7:05 into the second period. The tussle came off a play when Mats Zuccarello was buried on a hit by Steve Ott and Miller intervened.
After a terrific regular season, finishing second on the team with 56 points, Miller had some ups and downs over the past month. But as one of the Rangers’ most physical players, Vigneault is looking for him to play big minutes in important situations — and avoid the type of high-risk miscues that have plagued his game in the past.
“I see a young man, a young player that’s trying to put his game together at both ends, that 200-foot game you want any player on your team to play,” Vigneault said. “You want him to be at the right place when he doesn’t have the puck, and you want him to understand what plays need to be made in certain areas.
“J.T. is working extremely hard at that. He’s improved all year long, and I’m sure he’s enjoying this opportunity to have a big role in the playoffs.”