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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. 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." Cheap NBA Jerseys China . Its the games against the leagues struggling franchises that have proved to be an issue. NBA Jerseys Outlet . Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 12th-ranked Isner fought off two match points and evened it at 5-5 with consecutive aces. The former University of Georgia star had his only service break of the match to go up 6-5 before firing the last four of his 30 aces to close out Ginepri, an Atlanta resident ranked 281st. http://www.cheapjerseysnba.com/ . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. Cheap Authentic NBA Jerseys . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Wholesale NBA Jerseys Store . Ending a nine-game losing streak? That gave the Milwaukee Bucks veteran forward a reason to smile.LONDON - Where to start? In a week in which all the headlines should have been all about the football, theyve been about anything but. As England close in on a World Cup-or-bust qualifying stretch the tabloids have dropped a lot of ink on off-field business. From Sundays terrace refrain: “Jack Wilshere smokes when he wants to,” to the Premier League on Wednesday rejecting the FAs plea to sit on a commission whose raison dêtre is purely to examine what can be done to mend the England national team the news was definitely hot for off-pitch storylines. Another such headline was Harry Redknapps claim yesterday that Steven Gerrard sent him a text congratulating him on his appointment as England manager. Good one ‘Arry. Great to see you havent lost that rogue sense of humour of yours since settling into life as a Championship manager. Again. For his part Gerrard was quick to deny today at Fridays pre-match presser that he did not send a text to Redknapps personal mobile phone regarding the England job. The England job, of course, is a position the media dearly wishes Redknapp had got when Fabio Capello took a walk last February. Their insatiable want, need and desire for Redknapp to take over was not correlated to the ex-Spurs manager being the most abled person to step into Fabios loafers. No one provides the media with softer sound bites than the man who can claim amongst his ex-team mates the greatest footballer ever to don an England shirt, Bobby Moore. Moore, best known as the only Englishman in World Cup history to hold aloft the Jules Rimet trophy was a team mate of Redknapp at West Ham in the late 1960s. Gerrard didnt, though, get into Redknapps baseless claim earlier in the week that ‘the FA are clueless. Sounds like the sourest of grapes. Its hard to imagine the reason Gerrard was speaking to the media in the first place was purely down to Friday evenings pivotal World Cup qualifier at Wembley against Montenegro. Who would have known? Which brings us back to that FA Commission, and one man who didnt turn down an approach to join was ex-England guvnor Glenn Hoddle. Hoddle guided England to the 1998 World Cup but his tenure came to an abrupt halt early the next year after he mocked the afflicted in a London Times newspaper article. Hoddle brazenly claiming disabled people were paying for their sins in previous lives. How unreservedly crude of him. This coming from a man who included a faith healer as part of his team to prepare England for France 1998 and for good measure followed that up with the 11th-hour removal of Paul Gascoigne as Hoddle completed his final culls to the original oversized squad. Yes Gascoigne was passed his prime, but is the most naturally gifted of footballers England has produced in generations. Dont believe me? Read Gazzas highly revealing autobiography where he bares his very troubled soul and freely admits to often drinking a bottle of vodka before going out on the pitch and dominate in his own inimitable style. Hoddle freshly minted to the FA commission wasted no time in laying into the current England squad when he told the BBC Thursday evening it was unrealistic to expect England to win the World Cup in Brazil next summer. You been reading them tea leaves again Glenn? How about qualifying first and foremeost? Not content with rubbishing the current team, Hoddle perfectly performed the 360 pirouette when he went on to claim England could well go on and claim the EEURO 2016 crown… rib-tickling stuff.dddddddddddd. Obviosuly Hoddle has a fixation with France. Or maybe an Achilles heel. Speaking of national fixations Jack Wilshire could not have chosen a more inappropriate time than 48 hours ago when he discussed in-depth an absolute need for the England team to ooze Englishness. By Wilshires argument, players like Manchester Uniteds latest teenage sensation - the Belgian born Adnan Januzaj - could not ever play for England. Even though in a very short few years Januzaj could be considered for England when he hits that lower hanging football fruit; the FIFA residency mark. Since Wilsheres ill-timed and inappropriate comments grabbed the headlines and still continue to do so a siege-like mentality has prevailed over Team England. A plethora of so-called England legends, whatever they are, plus the current England manager and captain have voiced their backing directly or indirectly for the man who only last week was spotted smoking [or was it holding?] a cigarette whilst out enjoying a very late night on the London tiles. Meanwhile in a another highly affluent area of London - whilst speaking earlier today at this weeks Leaders in Football Conference which has been staged at Stamford Bridge - Joseph Barton laid it all bare. Barton doing what he does best, barking at the FA and Sir Alex Ferguson in equal measure. No one in world football shoots first, and aims afterwards more often than Barton. Lost in all the accusations and inappropriate comments this week was a quite splendid event held at Buckingham Palace and hosted by the FA President, Prince William himself. The celebrations were part of the FAs 150th anniversary which will culminate in a Gala dinner in London on the FAs birthday, October 26th. The plush Buck House gardens were transformed into the venue for a re-enactment of a 19th century football match. Never lost for a quip, “Wills” opened the proceedings with an ominous warning for the players. “If anyone breaks a window they can answer to her,” he stated as he nodded in the direction of the Queens personal Buckingham Palace quarters. The oranges at halftime have not ever seen such finer silver platters. When England step out at Wembley tomorrow against Montenegro, who held the English might to a draw in the corresponding fixture earlier in the campaign, nothing more than victory is required. Thats if they are to stand chance of winning a group the London bookies were reluctant to take bets on when the draw was made. With the final qualifier set for next Tuesday, England require the maximum points from both Wembley dates to automatically ensure Brazil 2014 is not a made-for-TV event. Quite remarkably with eight out of their 10 matches played, England have only managed to beat the twin forces that are San Marino and Moldova. Not so much pedigreed football playing nations as they are greedy tax havens. When Steven Gerrard leads his charges out of that iconic Wembley tunnel Friday night a nation will hold its collective breath. Only releasing it as they make a dash for the kettle or bark orders at the bar keep. The tea leaves and barley oats will be in an even higher demand next Tuesday when Poland come a-knocking. If you spot an England shirt on your travels over the coming days you may want to whisper the words: “Jan Tomaszewski and 1973”. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at: Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel ' ' '