Tuesday Habs Headlines: Alexander Radulov’s play has been the difference for Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

• The Habs played what was easily their best game on Sunday, sending a message to the New York Rangers. [Sportsnet]
• For the second straight game, Alexander Radulov has been the difference-maker for the Canadiens. [NHL]
• Radu seems to find a way to get in on every big play for Montreal. [TSN]
• The Russian forward has had a tremendous impact for the Canadiens. [Puck Daddy]
• Bob McKenzie reveals his favourite Radulov song before analyzing the Habs’ taking over of the series. [TSN 690]
• Finally, it appears the old, recycled narrative about Radulov’s lack of heart can be put to rest. [TSN]
• Number 47 may be the center of everyone’s radar, but Montreal can also be thankful for unsung hero Paul Byron. [Sportsnet]
• Shea Weber falls short of calling game three a perfect performance, but couldn’t help being impressed. [Journal de Montréal]
• “Almost perfect” seems to be the consensus view of the Canadiens’ first game at MSG. [RDS]
• A view from the other side, our friends at BSB’s take after game three. [Blueshirt Banter]
• Don’t look now, but their practice the day after a sound defeat didn’t appear any better. [Amanda Stein]/

#NYR practice seems slightly low energy. AV trying to get team going, don't seem to be responding. Feels like mid-January practice.#TSN690

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 17, 2017

• The battle of goaltenders, Henrik Lundqvist vs. Carey Price has been a tight one, perhaps too close to call yet. [ESPN]
• Looking ahead to game four, Alex Galchenyuk seems to have the right idea. [Amanda Stein]/

Galchenyuk on #NYR making adjustments ahead of Game 4: "Its our job to make them adjust to us. Not us to them." #TSN690

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 17, 2017

• Artturi Lehkonen is following in the footsteps of his countryman and former Habs captain Saku Koivu. [NHL Public Relations]/

Artturi Lehkonen is the first Finnish-born @CanadiensMTL rookie to score in the postseason since Saku Koivu in 1996 CQF vs. NYR. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/dYMGwFtYpO

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 17, 2017

• Bruce Bennett takes awesome pictures, and this one captures the width of a Man Mountain. [Instagram]
• Martin Reway still hopes to crack an NHL lineup one day. [Habs EOTP]/

Around the League and Elsewhere

• Stay up to date with each playoff series, and the schedule for upcoming games. [NHL]
• Jake Allen has been stellar for the St. Louis Blues, perhaps the MVP of the playoffs thus far. [NBC Sports]
• Another netminder who’s impressing so far is the Edmonton Oilers’ Cam Talbot. [NHL]
• The Western Conference would do well to fear the Nashville Predators. [ESPN]
• Bad news for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Zach Werenski’s season is over. [Jackets Cannon]
• Meanwhile in Toronto, Mike Babcock had good news about one of the Maple Leafs’ rookies. [David Alter]/

Babcock confirms Nikita Zaitsev will make his NHL playoff debut

— David Alter (@dalter) April 17, 2017

• Dallas broadcaster Dave Strader will be honoured with the Hockey Hall of Fame Foster Hewitt award. [Defending Big D]
• Attendance is strong in the AHL, and the Hershey Bears continue a rather impressive popularity streak. [AHL Communications]
• Ben Wilson, captain of the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning) has been suspended indefinitely and he deserves it for mauling Simon Denis. [Raw Charge]
• New evidence confirms that the first ever NHL game took place in Montreal, and not Ottawa as previously thought. [CBC]/