Mats Zuccarello mobs Derick Brassard following his set up for Benoit Pouliot.
Associated Press

There’s no doubt that the pressure is on the Rangers tonight when they host the Canadiens for Game 6 at MSG. They don’t want to go back to Montreal for a Game 7. Whatever happened the other night is over. This is their best chance to clinch the franchise’s first Stanley Cup appearance in 20 years. Do it at home in front of what will be a loud Garden reminiscent of the glory days.

That means their best players must deliver. It starts with Henrik Lundqvist, who must shrug off a dreadful showing in Game 5 that saw the Habs chase him. He can’t have a repeat. Nobody has more pressure than the self-proclaimed King, who gives the Blueshirts a clear advantage in net. Though you wouldn’t know it by the way Dustin Tokarski has conducted himself. He was beatable Tuesday but found a way to hang in there and make key saves to give his team life. He can’t outshine Lundqvist. It’s time for Lundqvist to deliver a performance worthy of playing for a Cup. He’s proven he can bounce back in the postseason. This is his moment.

If Lundqvist needs to be better, the same has to be echoed for the Rangers’ top four defensemen. They were miserable at Bell Centre. Particularly Marc Staal, who has looked slow and gotten victimized by the Canadiens’ speed. As good as he was against the Pens is as bad as he’s been this series. That can’t happen. He and Anton Stralman are a cohesive second unit Alain Vigneault trusts enough to play almost as much as top pair Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. Girardi hasn’t been great either. Clearly, the two Rangers’ most experienced blueliners can raise their game. It can’t just be McDonagh carrying the load. He’s also cooled down after a great start to the series.

There will also be attention on former Hab Raphael Diaz, who steps in for suspended defenseman John Moore for a dirty hit on Dale Weise. Moore played with underrated third pair vet Kevin Klein, who was the best defenseman in the 7-4 drubbing. He is a defensive D but looked for offense and got tons of opportunities. Klein shouldn’t be needed to do something that isn’t his job. Moore had been steady working with Klein. Now, Diaz gets a chance against his ex-team creating a cool storyline which I’m sure NBC will play up. That should include time on the second power play unit where he possesses a good shot. Wouldn’t it be something if he factored in? For Diaz, he must avoid trying to do too much. It’ll be interesting to see how much Vigneault uses him. Especially if it’s tight in the third.

Offensively, the Rangers scored four times the other day. However, they didn’t get enough out of Mats Zuccarello, who admitted that he was bad. Zuccarello has been a huge part of this run. Along with linemates Derick Brassard and Benoit Pouliot, they were instrumental in the second round comeback over the Pens. Pouliot must avoid being overaggressive and stay away from undisciplined offensive zone penalties. He has superb speed and is capable of contributing. He’s been noticeable for the wrong things versus his former team. Brassard, Zuccarello and Pouliot are the club’s best forecheckers. They need a big game tonight.

It’s mostly been Carl Hagelin and Martin St. Louis throughout. Both have been everywhere using their speed and scoring big goals with none bigger than St. Louis’ overtime winner in Game 4. Hagelin has never played better. He’s not just using his speed but now he’s creating and finishing chances. I always felt he was a mini-Callahan minus the physicality. But Hagelin makes up for it with his speed and willingness to get the uniform dirty. He’s really stepped it up.

Derek Stepan showed guts coming back with the broken jaw and scoring twice after missing Game 4 due to Brandon Prust’s blindside hit. Prust btw is back after serving his two-game suspension. He’s sure to get a Garden welcome. Stepan has seven points in the series. His game has come together and it’s resulted in Chris Kreider and Rick Nash having good series. Of course, Kreider has been a presence in front since knocking out Carey Price ‘unintentionally.’ He had a goal and three assists Tuesday but was miserable defensively. He also took a bad penalty that set the tone with the Habs drawing first blood. Kreider and his teammates must do the little things tonight. That means coming back defensively and avoiding doing anything that will result in a Habs’ embellishment. Nash has three goals in the series and has finally shown a pulse. He still frustrates with his hesitation to shoot. His commitment defensively is admirable. There’s no time like the present for Nash to deliver a defining game.

Brad Richards centers Hagelin and St. Louis. He has that going for him. But he’s been turnover prone and thrown pucks away. Against a speedy and opportunistic opponent, the former Conn Smythe winner knows better. You can’t make those mistakes. Richards has been a locker room leader. He along with St. Louis called the closed door meeting after the Rangers fell behind 3-1 to Pittsburgh. Richards emphasized how hard it is to get here. Once, he and St. Louis were on top of the world in their 20’s winning the Cup a decade prior in Tampa. Now, they’re near the end and still striving to get back. Richards has a big responsibility running the power play. It would be nice to see him deliver a power play goal tonight. That means winning offensive draws and getting his shot through. He can’t be tentative. It also requires the Rangers to forget they’re playing at home where they tend to be too fancy. Simplify it. Move it quickly and fire away. Get traffic and bounces.

If there’s one thing they must do, it’s avoid penalties. Play the Habs 5-0n-5. Get off to a quick start and feed off the energy of the crowd. It promises to be electrifying. These opportunities don’t come often. Don’t chance it. Finish it tonight.