from Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette,

The Habs are still a long way from being out of hockey’s proverbial woods. But their ridiculous 7-4 victory over the Rangers — the game was ridiculous, not the win — has dramatically changed the complexion of this series.

The pressure was on the Canadiens Tuesday to stave off elimination, the third time this postseason, twice on home ice, that they’ve had their backs to the wall. The pressure is still on, of course, Thursday’s game at Madison Square Garden another win-or-go-home tilt (8 p.m., CBC, RDS, TSN Radio 690).

But the heat felt by the Habs might not be as severe as that which now bakes the Rangers. On MSG ice, the Blueshirts will have little forgiveness from their fans who want nothing to do with a seventh and deciding game in this best-of-seven and who, for the love of Mark Messier, can probably feel their heroes’ collars tightening.

Win now, Rangers fans are saying, and let’s get to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 20 years.

“How,” veteran centreman Brad Richards was asked Wednesday, “do you build from game to game in terms of belief and not feeling the pressure?”

“It has nothing to do with us right now,” he replied, turning the question around. “You’re asking how the Montreal Canadiens are going to do that. You can ask them. I’m not going to tell them how they should feel.”

read on