Martin St. Louis scores for late Mom, on Mother's Day, in powerful moment (Video)

Martin St. Louis played Game 5 just 24 hours after rushing home to Montreal following the unexpected death of his mother, France. "This morning he said that [he] talked to his dad," Rangers' head coach Alain Vigneault said, "and him and his dad both agreed that his mom would want him to be here and that's what he did."

It weighed on him. Of that there's no doubt. And no doubt it was still weighing on him during Game 6, which took place on Mother's Day. So St. Louis did something else his mother would have wanted. He scored.

What a celebration from Marty. Safe to say that's a little more than just happiness at having opened the scoring, or even ending a seven-game scoring drought. This was about his mother.

On his way back to the bench, St. Louis saw the puck at his feet. He grabbed it. He may never be able to give it to her, but that puck is her Mother's Day present, and pardon me if it's a little misty in here now.

Pretty much the worst way for the game to start for the Penguins. Giving up the game's first goal is one thing. Giving it up to St. Louis, in Madison Square Garden, on Mother's Day? No fight is going to give the Rangers' bench as much life as that.

The goal was briefly reviewed, then allowed to stand. As they do, the NHL released their explanation shortly thereafter:

I haven't clicked, but I assume it says, "We have hearts. No way we were taking that moment away."