NYR@MTL: Game recap

MONTREAL - A welcome change of scenery was not enough to reverse the Canadiens' fortunes on Thursday, dropping a seventh-consecutive game, 4-1 to the Rangers.

The Habs were back in Montreal for the first time since Dec. 17, following seven games on the road during the holidays.
Head coach Martin St-Louis made several changes to his lineup on Thursday; Joel Armia was notably back in uniform in place of Brendan Gallagher, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury.

The game got off to a slow start, with New York holding a 6-4 edge in shots through a scoreless opening period. The Canadiens registered their first shot of the game 16:53 into the frame.
During intermission, the NHL unveiled its list of the initial 32 players who will head to this year's All-Star Game in Florida.
Nick Suzuki got the nod to represent Montreal at the annual event
for a second consecutive year.
Back for the second and the game's first power play went Montreal's way midway through the frame. It was the Rangers who took advantage of the Canadiens' man advantage however, as Chris Kreider scored shorthanded to make it 1-0. The shorthanded tally was the first allowed by Montreal this season.
Braden Schneider doubled the visitors' lead at 12:28 before Filip Chytil added another 59 seconds later to hand New York a 3-0 advantage after 40.
Armia got Montreal on the board at 14:46 to spoil Jaroslav Halak's shutout bid. The marker, assisted by Arber Xhekaj and Jake Evans, was Armia's first of the season.

But Chytil's second of the night, into an empty net, restored the three-goal cushion and secured the Rangers win.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Saturday when the St-Louis Blues make their sole visit to the Bell Centre this season.