Recap: Rangers Fall Short in the Third, Lose 3–2 to Montreal

With seven games to go on the season, the New York Rangers played hosts to the Montreal Canadiens. A team still looking to pin down a playoff spot, Montreal rode a six game winning streak coming into this one as the Rangers have won each of their last three. Given their recent successes, there wouldn’t be many changes to the lineup save for Jonny Brodzinski jumping up a line and Jonathan Quick returning to action backing up Igor Shesterkin. 

It was also another award night for the Rangers as Adam Graves and Judy Gilbert, wife of the late-great Rod Gilbert, took to the ice in a pregame ceremony to give out the Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger” Award. This year’s recipient was team captain J.T. Miller. 

First Period

After a very slow start, the Rangers got the game's first power play closer to the midway mark of the period. Vladislav Gavrikov took a stick up high from Juraj Slafkovsky that drew some blood for a double minor infraction. Despite spending the majority of those four minutes in Montreal’s end of the ice, the Rangers could not find the back of the net despite some quality scoring chances. One of which came in the form of a Will Cuylle wrist shot that nailed the crossbar in the final minutes of the advantage. 

Upon returning to even strength, Noah Laba was called for hooking Oliver Kapanen. The Rangers penalty killers were certainly tested as Montreal was hungry to take advantage of the power play but they held strong, keeping the game scoreless through the opening period. Definitely a low event period as the Rangers were outshot 8-7 despite having more high danger scoring chances. Six of the Rangers' seven shots on goal came from Will Cuylle, Vincent Trocheck, and Conor Sheary.

Second Period

Montreal had a real strong chance to take the lead just two and a half minutes into the period as Zac Bolduc set up Lane Hutson for a one timer off the rush. Shesterkin was able to take the shot right to the chest to keep things scoreless. Moments later, Jonny Brodzinski took a late hit from Kaiden Guhle which resulted in a minor scrum.

Five minutes into the period, the Canadiens would break the goose egg as a Conor Sheary turnover resulted in another rush similar to Bolduc and Hutson's a few shifts prior. This time around, it was Alex Newhook on the one timer that snuck through Shesterkin making it a 1-0 game.

Not long after, Montreal made it 2-0 as Arber Xhekaj got the puck down low and a quick passing play from the top line set up a one timer for Cole Caufield on a tough angle that soared to the back of the net. The goal comes as Caufield's 48th of the season, none of which were on empty nets.

Nearing the midway mark of the second, Will Borgen was sent off for high sticking Bolduc in the defensive zone. Once again, the Rangers fought off Montreal's power play but the Canadiens remained in control of the possession game for a large chunk of that middle period.

It wasn't until they were called for a too-many men penalty with just over six minutes to go that the Rangers were able to spend some time in the offensive zone. Even then, it took the Rangers some time to regain possession and Jake Evans nearly made it a 3-0 game on a shorthanded breakaway. Needless to say, the Rangers came up empty handed once again.

That would do it for the second as the Rangers trailed by a pair and were still behind in the shot counter 19-12. Somehow, the Rangers still led significantly in the high danger count, leading Montreal 8-3 through forty minutes of play.

Third Period

After an incredibly uneventful first half of the third period, the Rangers finally broke through and spoiled the shutout for Jacob Fowler. Nearing the ten minute mark of the third, a nice route from Alexis Lafrenière brought the puck up eye as he let a shot go from the point. Amid some chaos in front of the net, Gabe Perreault chipped at the rebound which allowed for Adam Fox to bury the loose puck to make it a 2-1 game.

About four minutes later, Jonny Brodzinski led the rush in the offensive zone and let a low shot goal that was stopped by Fowler but came up and was redirected in off the body of Will Cuylle. The goal came as Cuylle's 100th career point and was almost taken back as the Canadiens utilized their timeout to have more time with the replay to determine whether or not they wanted to challenge the goal. They made the decision not to as the score was tied 2-2- with just under six minutes to go in regulation.

Less than a minute later, Caufield picked up goal 49 on the season as he entered the zone with great speed and snuck a quick shot through the legs of Shesterkin. This came seconds after J.T. Miller watched the Canadiens win a face-off with ease because he felt it was going to be a false start. 3-2 Montreal.

With two minutes to go, the Rangers pulled Shesterkin for the extra attacker. Despite a bit of a push, Montreal held on and extended their win streak to seven games. Final shots on goal tally rang in at 25-23 in Montreal's favor.

The Rangers will host the Detroit Red Wings for another original six matchup in the first half of a back-to-back Saturday afternoon.