Since the All-Star break, the New York Rangers have lost two games in a row as Max Pacioretty’s late goal secured the victory for the Montreal Canadiens at the famed Madison Square Garden.
Although there was a lack of goals tonight, there was certainly no lack of action. The first period started out slowly as both teams were wanting to just get their feet wet a bit. Out of nowhere, however, the opening framed turned on like a light switch. Chris Kreider and PK Subban started got the physicality going when Montreal’s Subban got called for embellishment; Kreider was also sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct.
It did not stop once they got into the penalty box as they chirped back and forth. As soon as the penalties expired Kreider dropped his gloves and wanted to fight, but Suban kept calm as the pair went back into the box for another two minutes. There was eventually a fight in the opening period, except it was between Tanner Glass and Brandon Prust who dropped the gloves as the ex-Penguin, Glass, won that round.
Both net-minders were on top of their games tonight, making ridiculous save after ridiculous save. Unfortunately for Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers, they gave up a pretty soft goal with less than five minutes remaining in the game. Pacioretty received the puck from Dale Weise up near the blue line on the right side of the rink. He proceeded to shoot and the puck trickled into the back of the net beating Lundqvist for the only goal of the game.
Montreal will head back home to play a Saturday matinee game against the Washington Capitals while the Rangers hope to bounce back against the Carolina Hurricanes on the same night.