After a meager 60 minutes and barely one and a half minutes of extra time, Vegas won over Montreal 2-1 in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It is now 2-2 in the semifinal series, which is decided in the best of seven.

Robin Lehner, who has not played since the first quarter-final game against Colorado at the end of May, when he conceded seven pucks, saved 27 shots in the Vegas goal.

He was named one of the best players of the match.

Lehner's efforts, not only in tonight's match but also during the previous ones, when he was not playing, were praised by his teammates:

- He has been our best cheerleader when he has not played and his positivity is contagious.

I'm glad for his sake that he got to play tonight again.

He is incredibly important to us, says Max Pacioretty, who is supported by Alex Tuch:

- He played fantastically well tonight.

For us, it does not really matter who is in the goal.

He's a great teammate.

"Motivated by the bullshit"

Lehner himself says that he entered this match like any other.

- For me, it was just a match like everyone else.

It's about going out and helping my team win.

That it is another match to advance in the Stanley Cup, it comes in second place, he says.

- For me, it does not really matter if I am on the bench or on the ice - I do my best for the team.

It's a team sport after all.

(First goalkeeper Marc-Andre) Fleury has been absolutely incredible, and it is thanks to him that we have come this far, he continues.

Lehner says he draws motivation from the criticism that has been leveled at him in the media after the Colorado loss.

- I have the team's support and I do not really care so much about what everyone says.

But all the bullshit motivates me to do my best on the ice.

Vega coach Peter DeBoer says there was never any doubt about letting Lehner play.

- He was fantastic, and I knew he would be good.

- We would not have been here today without Fleury, but it is a whole lot of hockey (in a short time).

For me, it was not a greater risk to let Lehner play, even though he did not play for a long time, than to let a worn-out Fleury play, says DeBoer.

Childhood dream

During regular playing time, Montreal seemed to be more on the cutting edge, with 28 shots against Vegas 20. And it was also the Canadians who broke the match zero at the end of the second period.

Paul Byron's 1-0 held on halfway through the third, when Brayden McNabb, played by William Karlsson, equalized.


Nicolas Roy scored the decisive goal one minute and 18 seconds into extra time.

- It's a guy who sometimes flies under the radar, but who is important to the team.

Glad he got to decide at home, says Alex Tuch about Roy, who comes from a small community in Quebec.

- It is a childhood dream to score at Center Bell against (Monteral) Canadiens, says Nicolas Roy.