Zuccarello, Rangers beat Canadiens 3-1 to reach East semis


              New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a second goal during the second period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Saturday, April 22, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a second goal during the second period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Saturday, April 22, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) - Mats Zuccarello scored twice in the second period and the New York Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 in Game 6 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Derek Stepan also scored and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots to help New York get past the first round for the fifth time in six years. The Rangers won three straight after falling behind 2-1 to beat Montreal for the ninth time in 16 postseason series.

The Rangers will face the winner of the Ottawa-Boston series, which the Senators lead 3-2.

Alexei Emelin scored for Montreal and Carey Price finished with 20 saves. The Canadiens, winners of the Atlantic Division after missing the playoffs last year, were bounced from the postseason by the Rangers for the second time in four years. In 2014, it was in the conference finals.

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