Canadiens Stop Rangers, Take 2-1 Lead in Finals

The Montreal Canadiens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead last night and coasted to a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven NHL Stanley Cup final series.

After the Rangers threatened early, Jacques Lemaire passed from behind the Ranger net to set up linemate Steve Shutt, who beat John Davidson with a quick snap shot to make it 1-0 Montreal five minutes into the game.

Before the period ended, Doug Risebrough, wearing a protective face mask because of a broken jaw suffered during the semifinals against Boston, finished off a 3-on-2 break by beating Davidson to the far side.

Following a scoreless second period, the Rangers closed the gap to 2-1 midway through the third, when a face-off in the Canadien zone bounced off the skate of defenseman Serge Savard and past Ken Dryden's right pad. Ron Duguay was credited with the goal.

But the Canadiens are not renowned for blowing two-goal leads in the third period of Stanley Cup final games, and Mario Tremblay provided the insurance goal at 14:48. Risebrough passed the puck to Yvon Lambert along the far boards; Lambert's centering pass went in off Tremblay's skate.

Montreal added a nice finishing touch with 2:50 to go when, with only helpless defenseman Dave Farrish back, Lemaire blasted in a pass from Shutt. Dryden also picked up an assist on the play.