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Rangers vs Canadiens: Rangers Erase 4-0 Deficit, Steal 6-5 Win in Montreal

The New York Rangers did the unthinkable this evening as they erased a 4-0 AND a 5-3 deficit in the third period to complete the comeback against the Montreal Canadiens. This game looked like it was going to be yet another blowout loss for this young Rangers squad, but unlike last game, they didn’t quit and kept pushing forward. Even after recovering for a few minutes, I’m still not entirely sure how the Rangers pulled it off.

1st Period

Max Domi (5) - Nick Suzuki (5) & Artturi Lehkonen (6) - 2:03 1st Period

Alexandar Georgiev didn’t exactly have a great start to this game, and the Canadiens were able to capitalize on his early mistakes. A sharp angle shot by Artturi Lehkonen gave Georgiev some trouble, and the puck deflected high up in the air well above the scramble in front of the net. Georgiev was still trying to locate the puck when Nick Suzuki tapped the puck over Max Domi on the far post, and made it 1-0 Montreal.

Artturi Lehkonen (4) - Joel Armia (5) & Mike Reilly (3) - 10:00 1st Period

The Canadiens doubled up their lead exactly at the halfway mark of the first period on a quick shot from Artturi Lehkonen coming into the zone. While Georgiev clearly misplayed the puck again, the Rangers didn’t exactly help the cause by backing down at the blue line and handing Lehkonen the clean zone entry.

Max Domi (6) - Nick Suzuki (6) & Ben Chiarot (6) - 19:26 1st Period

Max Domi picked up his second goal of the evening with under a minute to play in the opening frame, and gave Montreal a sizable three-goal lead. Montreal was clearly targeting Georgiev’s up around the shoulders all game long, and Domi scored yet again from just inside the faceoff circles. To Domi’s credit, he did an excellent job of using Jacob Trouba as a screen, and getting his shot through traffic.

2nd Period

Shea Weber (7) - Ben Chiarot (7) & Charles Hudon (1) - 2:51 2nd Period

Montreal continued to pile on the goals early in the second period as Shea Weber picked up his seventh goal of the season. During a delayed penalty call on the Rangers, Montreal was able to keep possession of the puck and eventually worked the puck over to Weber at the blue line. Weber wound up for a cannon of a slap shot, and the puck somehow slipped between Georgiev’s right arm.

Filip Chytil (7) - Artemi Panarin (15) & Brady Skjei (5) - 6:10 2nd Period

After spotting the Canadiens a four-goal lead, the Rangers finally got on the board at the 6:10 mark of the second period. Brady Skjei created the entire goal with a great end-to-end rush into the offensive zone, and tapped the puck over to Artemi Panarin. Almost instantaneously, Panarin found Filip Chytil on the far side of the ice and he snapped home his seventh of the year.

Pavel Buchnevich (4) - Brett Howden (3) - 7:06 2nd Period

About a minute after Chytil’s opening tally, Pavel Buchnevich brought the Rangers back within a pair of goals. Brett Howden setup Buchnevich with a great seam pass through the middle of the ice, and Buchnevich was able to broke in on a partial breakaway. The puck wound up slipping off of his stick during the move, but a little puck luck finally broke in the Rangers favor and made it a two-goal game.

Brendan Lemieux (2) - Adam Fox (7) & Jacob Trouba (7) - 9:30 2nd Period

Then, about two minutes later, Brendan Lemieux finally picked up a goal of his own after coming so close on numerous chances throughout the game. Lemieux picked up his goal right in front of the net after Adam Fox placed a stick-high shot on goal, and Lemieux deflected it past Carey Price.

3rd Period

Artturi Lehkonen (5) - Max Domi (10) - 5:20 3rd Period

After the Rangers crawled back within a goal during the second period, Montreal appeared to silence the Rangers efforts early in the third period. Artturi Lehkonen picked up his second goal of the night after corralling a pass from Max Domi, and snapping home a shot from the high slot. A bad clearing attempt by Tony DeAngelo lead to the goal, and Lehkonen slipped the Rangers coverage in the defensive zone.

Artemi Panarin (12) - Chris Kreider (7) & Ryan Strome (14) - 5:51 3rd Period

While most teams would crumble after a momentum changing goal, the Rangers got right back on the ice and responded with a goal 31 seconds later. A hard forecheck by the Rangers caused a turnover, and Chris Kreider made a gem of pass over to Artemi Panarin to tie the game. Kreider went no-look, between-the-legs right across the crease, and Panarin tapped home the loose puck to make it a one-goal game again.

Brendan Lemieux (3) - Brett Howden (4) & Brady Skjei (6) - 8:40 3rd Period

The Rangers were tasked with a huge penalty kill midway through the third period, and not only did they kill it off, they tied the game with a short-handed goal. With a little help on the deflection by Nick Suzuki, Brendan Lemieux broke in 2-on-1 on Carey Price, and tied the game with a great passing play. Brett Howden did an excellent job of selling the shot once he got the puck, and tapped the puck right back to Lemieux for the easy goal.

Jacob Trouba (3) - Ryan Strome (15) - 12:10 3rd Period

A little under four minutes after tying the game, the Rangers stunned Montreal with a quick shot off of the faceoff by Jacob Trouba. Carey Price never fully saw the shot as it came in on goal, and the puck slipped over the line after deflecting off Price’s right arm. After trailing by four goals early in the game, the Rangers somehow completed the unthinkable.

Montreal had some extended zone time at the end of the third period, but the Rangers did a great job of locking it down defensively in front of Georgiev. Following tonight’s memorable comeback victory, the Rangers will have a day of rest before returning home on Monday night against the Minnesota Wild.

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