Second-period woes doom Rangers in loss to Habs

2011-12 Game No. 43; Road Game No. 24	Rangers' Record: 28-11-4
VIDEO: GAME HIGHLIGHTS
• Highlight of the Game		• Analysis from "NHL Tonight"

GAME RECAP Associated Press Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist, linemates David Desharnais and Erik Cole also had three points each, and the Montreal Canadiens ended a three-game skid with a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Sunday night. Pacioretty opened the scoring 2:39 in and restored Montreal's one-goal lead at 2-1 with his 15th of the season 3:54 into the second. The Canadiens scored three times in the middle period. Desharnais had a goal and two assists, and Cole had three assists on a line that combined for nine points. Peter Budaj made 28 saves, and Mike Blunden also scored for Montreal (17-20-8), which is 12th in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens, 18 points behind East-leading New York, have won six straight against the Rangers at home. John Mitchell scored in the first for the Rangers, who became the first team to reach 60 points this season when they beat Toronto 3-0 on Saturday night. "It was uncharacteristic, some of the breakdowns we had," Rangers center Brad Richards said. Henrik Lundqvist, who was rested Saturday, stopped 25 shots for the Rangers. "We had no structure defensively," New York coach John Tortorella said. "That was our biggest problem." Stepan added an insurance goal with a nice deke at 6:01. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The loss to Montreal in regulation was the Rangers' first in a back-to-back game this season. The Blueshirts are now 11-1-2 in back-to-back games, including a 5-1-1 mark in the second game of back-to-backs. Since 2009-10, the Rangers are 26-9-3 in the second game of back-to-backs. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Girardi 2. Mitchell 3. Stepan

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THE BIGGER PICTURE This loss might have had more to do with the effect that the Bell Centre has been having on these Rangers players for the past three seasons than anything else. Look for the more recognizable and winning Blueshirts skating on Tuesday at The Garden.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- McDonagh (29:44) Shots -- Stepan (5) Hits -- Girardi, Mitchell (4) Blocks -- Girardi, Rupp (3) Takeaways -- None Faceoffs -- Richards (22)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP AT MONTREAL
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
John Mitchell	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Artem Anisimov	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Carl Hagelin	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Mike Rupp	Kris Newbury	Wojtek Wolski

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Marc Staal	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, McDonagh, Girardi, Anisimov, Richards, Callahan.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Mike Rupp	Artem Anisimov	Wojtek Wolski

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Brad Richards
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Ryan Callahan	Derek Stepan
John Mitchell	Artem Anisimov

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Michael Del Zotto