Rangers' woes in Montreal continue
John Mitchell #34 of the New York Rangers and Alexei Emelin #74 of the Montreal Canadiens collide. (Jan. 15, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
MONTREAL -- The Rangers' next visit to their personal house of horrors known as Bell Centre won't be until next season -- unless the Habs make the playoffs. If the Canadiens played the Rangers here more often, they just might.
The Canadiens, who scored three unanswered goals in the second period, beat the Rangers, 4-1, last night for the sixth straight time here. The Rangers haven't won in Montreal since March 17, 2009.
"For some reason, whenever we come into this building, we're running around a bit," captain Ryan Callahan said. "The staple of our team is defensive hockey -- and we addressed it before the game -- but once again, it bites us."
Playing their fourth game in sixth nights, the Rangers unraveled in the second period, unable to keep up with Montreal's speedy wingers and failing to clear the zone or the crease. Specifically culpable was the Mike Rupp-Wojtek Wolski-Kris Newbury line, which was on the ice for three of the four goals in the first 40 minutes. Rookie defenseman Stu Bickel also struggled mightily, playing his worst game this season.
"We had zero structure defensively," coach John Tortorella said.
Early in the second, Erik Cole's long shot hit Max Pacioretty, who provided a screen in front, in the leg, and the puck deflected past Henrik Lundqvist (25 saves) at 3:54. During that goal celebration on the Montreal bench, P.K. Subban, as seen in a video clip, appeared to spit in the direction of Michael Del Zotto as he skated by. Nothing resulted from the incident.
The Canadians kept pressing and Scott Gomez fed Mike Blunden in front for an open look at 7:11. David Desharnais finished off the trio of goals at 12:18, racing untouched to the front of the net to tip in Pacioretty's pass. That gave three Habs three points each: Desharnais (goal, two assists), Pacioretty (two goals, assist) and Cole (three assists).
In the third, the Canadiens were content to lay back and protect the lead.
"We gave up way too many chances from the slot," said Carl Hagelin, who was fine after a hit to the head from Rene Bourque, making his Canadiens debut after a trade from Calgary for Mike Cammalleri. "Usually we keep teams to the outside. And three goals is tough to come back from."
Meanwhile, the Rangers put little pressure on goaltender Peter Budaj, the backup to Carey Price who played his first game since Dec. 21 and who had not won since Nov. 12. The veteran was 1-4-0 coming into last night.
The Rangers' only goal, which tied the game at 1, came when Marian Gaborik fed Derek Stepan for a point-blank wrister that Budaj stopped but couldn't control. John Mitchell pounced, slamming the puck in from the doorstep at 12:49 of the first. It was Mitchell's third goal as a Ranger and Stepan's third point in two games after a goal and assist in Toronto on Saturday.
Pacioretty's 14th goal at 2:39 of the first came off a Rangers misplay behind their net when Bickel plowed into Lundqvist at the left post, knocking him over. "Tough start," Lundqvist said. "I lost my stick and was late to get to the other side and it was a mad scramble."
Maybe it's the sight of the New York jerseys. The Canadiens have won only eight home games this season -- two of them against the Rangers.
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