Zuccarello scores twice to eliminate Canadiens in six

NEW YORK The most painful of truths are the ones that are self-realized.

And so, it fell to Claude Julien to be candid during a moment of raw disappointment.

“We weren’t good enough,” Julien said after his Montreal Canadiens lost 3-1 to the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals Saturday.

The Canadiens dropped the best-of-seven series 4-2. The Rangers will meet the winner of the Boston-Ottawa series. The Senators lead that series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Sunday at TD Garden.

“We needed more,” said Julien, who added the Canadiens “had offence. We just lacked finish.”

Mats Zuccarello scored two goals in an 11:05 span in the second period and Derek Stepan added an empty-netter with 17.8 seconds left. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves.

Alexei Emelin scored Montreal’s lone goal. Carey Price made 20 saves.

Trailing 1-0 at the start of the second period, it only took 2:26 for New York to draw even on Zuccarello’s power-play goal. Zuccarello’s shot from the left face-off dot appeared to sneak through Price’s body. After the puck went in, Price first turned to look in the net, and then looked at his glove.

Zuccarello’s two goals marked his first career multigoal game in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The goal was the second of the series for Zuccarello, and New York’s first on 15 power plays over the course of the six games.

“It’s not every day you beat Carey Price,” Zuccarello said.