Canadiens 3, Rangers 0: Carey Price turned aside all 17 shots he faced to extend his home shutout streak over New York to 192 minutes, 45 seconds as Montreal improved to 6-0-1 in its last seven contests.
Erik Cole, Lars Eller and rookie Alex Galchenyuk collected a goal and an assist apiece for the Canadiens, who secured their seventh consecutive home victory over the Rangers.
New York has dropped three straight with top-line forward Rick Nash nursing an undisclosed injury. In addition, the Rangers saw defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi exit the contest. McDonagh was on the receiving end of a brutal hit along the boards by Max Pacioretty in the second period and Girardi was belted in the right ankle by a blast from Montreal blue-liner P.K. Subban in the third. Both Rangers did not return.
Price recorded his 18th career shutout and second this season by stopping six shots in the first period, seven in the second and four in the third. The netminder has posted three shutouts in his last five home games versus New York.
Cole opened the scoring at 1:20 of the second period by depositing a Rangers' giveaway just inside the post for his third goal. Galchenyuk doubled the advantage over 12 minutes later when his bid caromed off the stick of Girardi and over the shoulder of Martin Biron (15 saves). The tally was Galchenyuk's third of the season - and second against the Rangers.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New York D Michael Del Zotto sat out the contest after injuring his hip versus Ottawa on Thursday. ... Canadiens RW Brandon Prust, who finished plus-1 on Saturday, is plus-4 in two games against his former team this season. ... LW Christian Thomas made his NHL debut for the Rangers and registered two shots on goal. He is the son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, who played for six different teams over his 20-year career.
NY Rangers | Montreal | |
N/A | Points | Erik Cole 2 |
N/A | Goals | Erik Cole 1 |
N/A | Assists | Erik Cole 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Lars Eller 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Martin Biron .833 | Save Percentage | Carey Price 1.000 |
Martin Biron 15 | Saves | Carey Price 17 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
NY Rangers | 17 | 0 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 10 | 33 |
Montreal | 18 | 3 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 6 | 26 |