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The Rangers destroy the Canadiens with rapid scoring and extend their point streak to six


The Rangers destroy the Canadiens with rapid scoring and extend their point streak to six

MONTREAL – The Rangers are making a splash with the NHL's Frozen Frenzy.

All 32 teams were in action Tuesday night, but the Blueshirts put together a performance worthy of the league's nickname for its version of the NFL Red Zone, defeating the Canadiens 7-2 at the Bell Centre.

The Habs were quickly overwhelmed. That's enough if you allow four goals in the first ten shots.

Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrates his goal with teammates Adam Fox (23) and Jacob Trouba (8) in the first period of the Rangers' 7-2 victory over the Canadiens on October 22, 2024. Getty Images

One came after the other until suddenly, in the middle of the first third, nine of the Rangers' 18 field players were on the scoresheet. Twelve out of 18 made the final count.

There was no opportunity to get back into the game. The Rangers never backed down.

The Rangers crushed their opponents, not only setting a franchise record for the longest points streak to start a season by winning at least one of six straight games, but also setting the team record for the longest road winning streak for a campaign to start.

“We got a lot out of everyone right from the start, perhaps the best team win of the year,” said head coach Peter Laviolette about his team, which became the first team in franchise history to score at least four goals in each of the first six games of the season – a feat only three other NHL teams have accomplished since 1990-91.

Goals continue to be in abundance for the Rangers, as they have an NHL-high 14 players who have scored a goal and 18 different players who have scored at least one point.

After the Canadiens created a few chances in the opening seconds, the Rangers came from the opposite direction and Mika Zibanejad scored in transition from the left circle to give his team a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the game.

From there, the Blueshirts just kept going.

Adam Edstrom chased down a cleared puck that the Canadiens players thought was going to be whistled for icing. The big Swede won the puck race, turned it back to Jonny Brodzinski and the veteran forward scored to double the Rangers' lead.

A single shot from Reilly Smith less than five minutes later gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead.

The Rangers' second power play unit later got into the action, starting and ending with Filip Chytil.

Reilly Smith, second from left, celebrates with his teammates after his goal as David Savard runs past in the first period of Rangers' victory. AP

After stealing from Jake Evans, the Czech center carried the ball up the ice before crashing into the net at 11:05, negating a feed from Smith.

Montreal then moved goaltender Sam Montembeault, who allowed four goals on 10 shots, in favor of Cayden Primeau.

Two goals from Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, one at the end of the first period and one on the power play, allowed Montreal to save face after a difficult first 11 minutes.

Igor Shesterkin saves Nick Suzuki in the Rangers' clear win. AP

“The movement we're creating,” said Braden Schneider, who scored his second goal of the season in the second period before Chytil scored his second of the night and Kaapo Kakko scored his first of the season in the final frame. “It's not just three forwards working deep down, I feel like our D is getting involved, our D is diving, our D is pushing into the middle. Our strikers are on the way up. Everyone plays five positions at the same time. When we get into the O-Zone, we feel like there are so many options open to us.

“When we start feeling good and connecting at the games, good things seem to happen.”

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