The Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens beat the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers, 5-1, on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, showing their superiority in puck battles, passing and defense. But their game was actually John Tortorella-era, circa 2012, as they blocked 26 shots but managed just seven on net in the first two periods and were outchanced, 75-41, in the game.
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“There’s definitely a period where it crosses your mind whether you’ll return the same…I don’t think you’ll necessarily (see the effects on the ice), I try to maintain a pretty simple game. It’s something that’s very special and humbling, but it brings you down to Earth and makes you that much hungrier…you’re on the blue line next to Henrik Lundqvist and guys are floating around, it’s hard not to say, ‘Holy smokes, how far have you come in three years'”. Smith-Pelly could be a welcomed addition to the trio, as Plekanec has not scored a goal in his last eight games. Rangers left winger Rick Nash scored his seventh goal of the season for the Rangers, who had not lost at home in regulation since October 13, a span of 10 games (9-0-1).Andrighetto put the Canadiens 1-0 at 4:45 of the first period.
Elsewhere, Pittsburgh beat St. Louis 4-3 in overtime, Ottawa held on to defeat Colorado 5-3, Chicago topped San Jose 5-2, and Tampa Bay beat Los Angeles 2-1 in a shootout. They’ll meet in a again Saturday at the Bell Centre.
“It doesn’t matter about the game you played before, it just matters about being in the moment”. “It’s a huge game for us. We all know that.” stated head coach Claude Julien.
Still, the Rangers’ concern right now is not the standings, it’s getting back to the way they want to play.
Yet Vigneault frequently referred to the loss to the Canadiens through that stretch, which included a nine-game winning streak that fell one short of matching the franchise record.
Boston were also celebrating an overtime victory on Wednesday night – their fourth in a row – with Frank Vatrano’s second goal of the game edging the Bruins to a 3-2 success against the Detroit Red Wings, for whom Pavel Datsyuk scored his 300th career goal.
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Unfortunately, the Rangers’ mistakes against Montreal of poor puck management and defensive zone coverage are regular issues. They moved into first place in the East with 36 points (17-4-2), two ahead of the Rangers (16-4-2), who allowed a season high five goals. Kevin Hayes’ turnover started the sequence. Smith-Pelly’s first goal, just like the one scored by Andrighetto, was scored from the front of the net with little resistance to make it 2-0 early in the second period. The assists on the power play goal were credited to Ryan McDonagh and Derick Brassard.
