Coach Alain Vigneault knew that to tighten the Rangers’ system, buttons had to be pushed.
After losing two straight games - and allowing 12 goals to open the season - Vigneault opted to play seven defensemen against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, and made Brendan Smith a healthy scratch.
“It’s a big game for us,” Vigneault had said before the Blueshirts won, 2-0, on goals by Brady Skjei and Mika Zibanejad and 34 saves from Henrik Lundqvist, who earned his 62nd career shutout. Lundqvist bounced back from Saturday when he was pulled after allowing five goals in the first period.
“There was no structure in front of Hank,” Vigneault said before the game. “He’s our guy, only played a period, so he’s going back in. It might be early on, but points are important, and the way you play (is) important. Right now our starts haven’t been to my liking.”
Except for Zibanejad’s line, which stayed intact, the others were shuffled, with only 11 forwards. Jimmy Vesey was moved up from the fourth line to play with Kevin Hayes and right wing Mats Zuccarello, and J.T. Miller centered Michael Grabner and Rick Nash.
Indeed, in their third game in four nights, the Rangers played a more conservative first period after falling behind 2-0 and 5-1 in the first 20 minutes against the Avalanche and Maple Leafs, and came away with two points, their first of the season.
The visitors, who had also played Saturday and allowed four goals to Alex Ovechkin in a 6-1 loss to the Capitals, appeared to take the early lead at 6:24 of the first at Madison Square Garden.
A kneeling Lundqvist appeared to squeeze his pads and cover the puck, but it trickled to his left and ended up in the net. He immediately argued with the officials and a review showed that Andrew Shaw, at the right post, kicked the puck in with his skate and the game remained scoreless.
Then with 11:01 left, defenseman Shea Weber’s blast from the right point hit Lundqvist in the chest, and bounced off Max Pacioretty, who battled with Ryan McDonagh in front and past the goalie. Vigneault challenged the goal, citing goaltender interference, and won it. Skjei opened the scoring by wristing a shot from deep along the left boards that caromed in off Weber, who battled in front with Grabner, and past goalie Carey Price at 17:25.
In the third, 16 seconds after Lundqvist stopped Jonathan Drouin’s snap shot with his arm, Zibanejad, low in the left circle, fired the puck between the left post and Price at 9:13. It was Zibanejad’s fourth goal of the season, which leads the team, and his first at even strength. Pavel Buchnevich, who is stronger physically this season, backchecked well, and his forecheck led to Zibanejad’s goal. He was solid throughout.
The Rangers’ power-play was scoreless, but the penalty-kill, which allowed three goals to the Leafs, improved, with players not collapsing back toward the net. They were more aggressive in passing lanes.
Today, the Rangers have a chance to even their record when they play the St. Louis Blues at home, where they are playing 10 games this month. And the familiar chants of “Hen-reek, Hen-reek” returned to Seventh Avenue, resounding in the rink, especially in the third period, may return.