GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The New York Rangers will attend the funeral of veteran forward Martin St. Louis' mother on Sunday in Montreal as a team, coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday afternoon.
St. Louis and his family had originally planned to hold the funeral on Saturday but have since moved the service to Sunday so as not to conflict with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Montreal Canadiens.
According to a league source, the NHL huddled with NBC to discuss the potential of moving the game to Saturday night before St. Louis ultimately decided to reschedule the funeral.
"We were able to, yesterday, work with the NHL for schedule," Vigneault said. "Marty's [mother's] funeral was supposed to be Saturday. [They] couldn't move the time of the game, so Marty being the way he is, was able to move the funeral to Sunday. So Sunday, as a team, we'll be able to attend his mother's funeral."
France St. Louis died last Thursday after suffering a heart attack. Martin St. Louis rejoined the team just one day after her death to play in Game 5 as the Rangers avoided elimination against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.
The Rangers, as if inspired by his return, rattled off two more wins, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in franchise history.