NHL Playoffs: Max Pacioretty clobbers Jimmy Vesey (video)

The Canadiens captain set the tone early in this game, decisively winning his fight with Jimmy Vesey.

Just under five minutes into the first period of game six between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, Jimmy Vesey dropped the mitts with Max Pacioretty, and things didn’t go too well for the Rangers rookie.

Pacioretty won this one by unanimous decision, pulling Vesey’s jersey over his head and continuing to wail on him as he fell to the ice. The tilt came at 4:51 of the first period at Madison Square Garden, after an emotional start to the game. Alexander Radulov of the Canadiens sprayed New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist with snow, and Pacioretty triggered the fight with a cross-check on Vesey’s face.

Both Pacioretty and Vesey ultimately sat in the penalty box for seven minutes, with both handed additional two-minute minors to go with their fighting penalties. Losing Vesey to get Pacioretty out of the game is probably a trade most Rangers fans would take, though.

Despite losing their captain to the sin bin, the fired-up Habs put a goal on the board less than two minutes later. Alexei Emelin scored his first career playoff goal to put Montreal up 1-0 at 6:19.

Pacioretty has been criticized in recent days by Habs fans, with some Montrealers disappointed by his playoff performance so far. He has just one point in the series so far, but probably generated some good will by sparking his team here.

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The Canadiens are fighting for their playoff lives in this game, with the Rangers leading their first round series 3-2 after winning Thursday’s game in overtime back in Montreal. The Habs have stepped up to the daunting challenge of a do-or-die game on the road, dictating the tone of the game early with a fight and a goal.