Rangers score early and often for third straight win

2011-12 Game No. 12; Home Game No. 5	Rangers' Record: 6-3-3
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
		• Foxwoods Final Five | Mercedes Stars of Game

GAME RECAP Associated Press Erik Christensen scored one of New York's three first-period goals, and the Rangers overcame a 1-for-9 effort on the power play to hang on for a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. Defensemen Dan Girardi and Michael Del Zotto also scored in the first to pace the Rangers, who swarmed Montreal in the opening period with a 16-3 shot advantage and earned their third straight win -- all at home. Brad Richards pushed the lead to 4-2 in the second period for the Rangers (6-3-3), who are 3-1-1 on a six-game homestand that ends Sunday against Winnipeg. Max Pacioretty and Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the second, and Brian Gionta added a goal with 1:10 left for Montreal, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Ryan Callahan sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Christensen scored the Rangers' only power-play goal 4:57 in off a perfect goal-mouth feed from Derek Stepan with New York on a 5-on-3 advantage. Girardi made it 2-0 with his second goal of the season, putting a shot past Price off a pass from Artem Anisimov, who had two assists. Del Zotto put the Rangers up 3-0 on a pretty backhand, set up by Anisimov and Stepan. It was a rare visit by Montreal's to New York on a Saturday night -- only the third since 1964.

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Rangers have now posted a record of 47-26-12 against Original Six opponents since the 2005-06 season, including a 12-10-3 mark vs. Montreal over the span. The Blueshirts’ .624 winning percentage in Original Six match-ups ranks second among the six teams. THREE STARS (selected by the local media) 1. Anisimov 2. Girardi 3. McDonagh

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THE BIGGER PICTURE Three straight wins at home is just one of many good tings the Rangers have achieved just 12 games into the season. The last time this team led the Atlantic Division was in January 2009. It's already looking like they could be back there sometime fairly soon.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Girardi (30:50) Shots -- Gaborik (5) Hits -- Five players tied (2) Blocks -- Girardi (3) Takeaways -- Four players tied (2) Faceoffs -- Boyle (12)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. MONTREAL
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Sean Avery	Erik Christensen	Andre Deveaux

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Michael Sauer
Jeff Woywitka	Steve Eminger
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Del Zotto, Sauer, Anisimov, Stepan, Gaborik.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky	Marian Gaborik
Ruslan Fedotenko	Derek Stepan	Erik Christensen
Brian Boyle	Artem Anisimov	Andre Deveaux

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Brad Richards	Michael Del Zotto
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Stepan/Fedotenko	Artem Anisimov
Ryan Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Michael Del Zotto	Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh	Steve Eminger