The New York Rangers were shutout 3-0 for a second consecutive game Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Michael Ryder scored just 47 seconds into the game, and provided all the offense the Habs would need. Ryder dumped the puck off the back boards, and it took a bounce off the side of the net to Ryder who was all alone in front, and Ryder slid the puck past Marty Biron.
The Rangers carried the play for most of the first period following the early goal, but could not beat Montreal goaltender Carey Price. Price stonewalled Marian Gaborik late in the first period as Gaborik got behind the Canadien defense and tried to go five hole, but Price was up to the challenge. Less than two minutes after Gaborik was stopped by Price, Tomas Plekanec came down on a two-on-one and rifled a shot by Biron to give Montreal a 2-0 lead after one period.
The Rangers outshot Montreal 17-10 in the first period, but still found themselves in a 2-0 hole.
In the second period, it was the same story for the Blueshirts. The Rangers had a few opportunities to cut into the Montreal lead, but were unable to find the net. Halfway through the second period, Brendan Gallagher chipped in a power play goal over the pad of Biron and put the Habs up 3-0, and a fork in the New York Rangers.
Carey Price stopped all 34 Ranger shots Saturday and continues to dominate New York at the Bell Centre. Price has posted four consecutive shutouts against the Rangers and home, and a shutout streak of just under 253 minutes.
The Habs also completed a season sweep of the Blueshirts, and outscored them 9-1 in the three games.
The last time the Rangers scored on Price at the Bell Centre? January 15, 2011 by the player who made his season debut with the Rangers last night, Mats Zuccarello.
The Rangers have now been shutout for two straight games, with back to back 3-0 losses to Ottawa on Tuesday and Montreal Saturday night. The Rangers have not scored on their last 58 shots on net. It has been a disasterous two games for John Tortorella's team, who are getting shots on net, but they are not really testing and challenging the goalies.
The biggest word for the Rangers coming down the stretch is "finish." Finish the play, find the back of the net, finish the game, get the lead and hold the lead. These are words that have been echoed by the Rangers and their fans all season, and now time is running out for the Rangers and their playoff hopes. With fourteen games remaining, the Rangers will need a complete team effort, that needs to be led by Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, in order for the Rangers to try and save this season. The Rangers are ranked fourth in goals against, but are also ranked dead last in goals for, and that is not a winning combination.
The Rangers schedule does not do them any favors this coming week either. They will play the Southeast leading Jets on Monday, and then have a home and home with the hottest, and most talented team in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins have won 15 straight games, but may be without captain Sidney Crosby for some time after Crosby took a puck to the face and knocked out a few teeth.
It's time for the Rangers to get in attack mode and start putting the pressure on the other team with their forecheck. Time is running short, and so is the patience of the Ranger fans. If the Rangers want to repeat the success they had in the playoffs last year, they must turn the corner Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
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