NYR@MTL: Postgame
The Canadiens are winless in their last four games after falling to the Rangers at the Bell Centre
by Matt Cudzinowski @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
MONTREAL - The Canadiens surrendered a four-goal lead on Saturday night en route to a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers.
It didn't take Max Domi long to get Claude Julien's contingent on the board in his first game back at center.
Just 2:03 into the first period, Domi put a loose puck past Rangers starter Alexandar Georgiev to give the Habs a 1-0 lead.
It was the 24-year-old forward's first goal since October 31 in Las Vegas. He'd gone nine straight games without scoring before beating Georgiev for his fifth marker of the season.
Linemates Nick Suzuki and Artturi Lehkonen both collected assists on the play.
Lehkonen doubled the Canadiens' lead with a laser of a wrist shot midway through the frame.
The 24-year-old Finn used a Rangers defender as a screen and beat Georgiev on the glove side for his fourth goal of the season and his second in the last three games.
The helpers came courtesy of countryman Joel Armia and Mike Reilly, who returned to the lineup after watching the last six contests as a healthy scratch.
With 34 seconds left in the opening stanza, Domi struck again for his sixth goal of the 2019-20 campaign.
Georgiev was no match for the five-year NHL veteran's wrist shot from the slot.
That put the Canadiens ahead 3-0 heading into the intermission.
The Habs outshot the Rangers 18-12 through 20 minutes of play.
Early in the second period, it was captain Shea Weber's turn to give Georgiev some trouble.
The veteran defenseman blasted a puck that snuck by the young netminder to give the Canadiens a four-goal lead.
It was Weber's seventh goal of the season.
New York responded with a goal of their own, though, courtesy of Filip Chytil.
That cut Montreal's lead to 4-1.
Then, Pavel Buchnevich scored another goal for the Blueshirts to bring the Rangers within two.
Brendan Lemieux was the next Ranger to light the lamp behind Carey Price.
It was the third New York goal in a span of 3:20, which undoubtedly made the Bell Centre faithful nervous.
There were no more goals to report in the period.
The Canadiens held a 32-25 advantage in the shot department at the break.
Lehkonen got Montreal back on track just 5:21 into the third period with his second goal of the night.
That upped the Canadiens' lead to 5-3, before Artemi Panarin answered right back for New York only 31 seconds later.
Lemieux tied the score 5-5 with a short-handed goal at the 8:41 mark of the period, capping an odd-man rush with his second tally of the night.
Jacob Trouba gave the Rangers their first lead of the game with 7:49 remaining in regulation.
His point shot found its way through a screen and beat Price to put New York ahead 6-5.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.