Every game is a learning opportunity for a developing team, but sometimes the lessons are harder to digest than others.
The New York Rangers scored four goals in a 4:10 span in the second period and defeated the Montreal Canadiens 7-4 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Habs therefore quickly fell back to earth after a 5-0 victory against the Anaheim Ducks.
He looked good for a period and a half, then was out of the picture after that, although he never gave up.
“Before the four goals, we controlled the match,” said head coach Martin St-Louis. Then we lost 4-1, but we started to control the game again at the end of the second period. The fifth goal hurt. »
The Canadian conceded at least six goals in a game for the eighth time this season, and seven goals for the second time in three games.
Samuel Montembeault made 24 saves in front of the Canadian net. He suffered a defeat in regulation time in his second straight start for the first time this season.
“We didn’t help him,” summarized St-Louis, coming to the defense of his goalkeeper.
Chris Kreider scored a hat trick for the Rangers (35-16-3), who won a sixth straight game.
Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists and Will Cuylle had a goal and an assist. Vincent Trocheck and Kaapo Kakko also scored a goal each. Adam Fox had four assists and Artemi Panarin had three. Jonathan Quick stopped 31 shots.
For the Canadian (22-24-8), Cole Caufield had two goals and an assist and Juraj Slafkovsky, a goal and an assist, while Jake Evans also made the red light shine.
Nick Suzuki (one assist) and Slafkovsky extended their streak of games with at least one point to nine and seven games, respectively. However, the focus was not on individual successes after the match.
“We want to win games and stay in the playoff race,” Slafkovsky said. We have to learn from this match and now we focus on the next one. »
And what lesson should the Canadiens players learn from this meeting?
“Every action on the ice can influence the game,” said St-Louis. Actions without the puck, not just with the puck. All action, from both sides of the ice. »
Forward Brendan Gallagher returned to action for the Canadiens after serving his five-game suspension for a hit to the head of Adam Pelech of the New York Islanders. Jesse Ylönen gave up his place in the lineup.
The Rangers lost the services of forward Blake Wheeler in the first period. He appeared to injure his right leg when he fell after contact with Jayden Struble behind the Canadian’s net.
The Canadian will return to the Bell Center on Saturday, when they host the Washington Capitals.
Difficult evening for the goalkeepers
Brandon Gignac beat Quick early in the game, but the goal was quickly disallowed as the Quebec forward deflected the puck higher than the allowed height before scoring on his own return.
Evans finally gave the Canadian the lead with 5:31 left in the first period. He scored on a return after a shot from the slot by Josh Anderson.
Quick redeemed himself with some nice saves early in the second period against Anderson, then against Tanner Pearson.
Defender Braden Schneider helped his goalie by blocking a point-blank shot from Anderson a little later.
The Rangers finally got going with 8:51 left in the second period. Shortly after being frustrated by Montembeault on a breakaway, Kreider took revenge by beating the Canadian goaltender with a more or less successful one-timer from the slot.
Cuylle gave the Rangers the lead 1:18 later. Posted at the mouth of the net, he deflected a delivery from Ryan Lindgren in the opening.
Zibanejad took advantage of the Rangers’ momentum to score shorthanded with 5:17 left in the period. He hit the mark with a powerful one-timer.
St-Louis contested the goal, believing Kreider had interfered with Montembeault’s work with his stick. NHL video officials decided otherwise. The goal was awarded and the Canadian was punished for delaying the game.
The Rangers took advantage of their numerical advantage to add a fourth goal 36 seconds later. Kreider skillfully deflected a shot from the blue line by Panarin into the goal.
Slafkovsky allowed the Canadian to cling to a slim hope by beating Quick with 3:30 remaining in the second period. He scored with a good wrist shot after Caufield intercepted a pass coming out of the Rangers zone.
The Rangers did not slow down in the third period. Trocheck scored 4:23 into the game.
Caufield responded on the power play at 6:53, when the puck deflected against the boards and then the back of Quick’s right pad before crossing the goal line. But Kreider completed his hat trick 66 seconds later, on a pass from Zibanejad during a two-on-one attack.
Kakko took advantage of a fall from Kaiden Guhle to charge the net and score at 9:56. Caufield came back at 11:27, scoring from the slot with a precise shot.
The Canadian obtained a numerical advantage late in the game, but he was unable to make things a little more interesting.