Hossa nets pair as Rangers blank Habs

Feb 28, 2007 05:02:11

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Henrik Lundqvist stopped 19 shots to post his third shutout of the season, as the New York Rangers blanked the Montreal Canadiens, 4-0, at Madison Square Garden. Marcel Hossa scored twice and added an assist and Jaromir Jagr and Matt Cullen each added a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game losing skid and won for just the second time in six games. "I thought it was a huge game," Lundqvist said. "We kept it simple, I feel that is how we have to play, even at home." Jaroslav Halak made 23 saves in the loss for the Canadiens, who lost for the second time in three games. We took some penalties tonight, and five were ten feet away from their net," said Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau. "That to me is lacking focus, and not being good teammates." New York took a 1-0 lead at 6:51 on a power-play goal from Jagr, who spun at the top of the right circle and let a shot go while facing the boards, which hit the knob of Halak's stick and deflected into the net. It was 2-0 for the Blueshirts on another power play at 9:32 of the second, when Hossa tapped home a loose puck that squirted through Halak thanks to Jarkko Immonen's repeated hacks at the right side of the crease. Hossa struck again for a 3-0 Rangers advantage with 4:16 to play in the second period, when he took a puck that deflected off Marek Malik's skate in the right circle, pulled the young Canadiens goaltender across the crease, and flipped the puck inside the far post. Montreal failed to mount an offensive charge in the third period, firing off just three shots. Then, with a six-on-four advantage with under two minutes left in regulation with Jagr in the penalty box and Halak off for an extra attacker, Cullen added insult to injury by scoring into the empty net with under a minute to go. "It was a team game, all four lines played well," Jagr said. "If we want to go further, that is the way we have to play. I think that was the mistake against Columbus." Game Notes Each team has split the last six meetings, but the Rangers won both games this season.The Rangers are 3-5 at home since the All-Star break. Defenseman Paul Mara did not play for New York following his acquisition on Tuesday from Boston.Martin Straka also did not dress for the Rangers as he is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.It was the Rangers' first home shutout against the Canadiens since October 12, 1990, when John Vanbiesbrouck blanked the Habs.New York hosts Pittsburgh on Thursday, while Montreal heads to Buffalo on Friday.