NEW YORK — Alex Tuch scored twice in the first four minutes and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the New York Rangers 4-1 Monday night.
Reilly Smith and Max Pacioretty also scored to help Vegas get its first three-game winning streak of the season. Malcolm Subban stopped 29 shots as the Golden Knights improved to 5-2-1 after a season-high five-game skid (0-4-1).
Brendan Lemieux scored and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 28 saves for the Rangers, who were 4-0-1 in their previous five games.
The Rangers went 0 for 6 on the power play against a Vegas team that came in tied for fifth in penalty-killing.
New York picked up the pace in the second half of each of the first two periods and came out more aggressive to start the third. The Rangers outshot the Golden Knights 8-1 over the first 12 minutes and finished the period with a 11-4 advantage but couldn’t score.
Subban, getting the start while Marc-Andre Fleury is away from the team following his father’s death, denied Ryan Strome’s tip try nearly seven minutes into the third, Filip Chytil’s shot from the left circle with 8 1/2 minutes left and Ryan Lindgren’s attempt from above the left circle less than 20 seconds later.
Vegas scored twice early in the first period and then doubled its lead with a pair of goals early in the second.
Subban knocked turned aside a deflection by Chytil 2:10 into the second to keep the Rangers off the scoreboard, and Chris Kreider hit a goalpost exactly two minutes later.
Smith made it 3-0 on a breakaway as he put a backhander past Lundqvist for his team-leading 12th at 4:44.
With Vegas on its second power play of the game, rookie Cody Glass sent a pass across the front of the goal and Pacioretty quickly put it past Lundqvist for his 10th to make it 4-0 at 6:20.
Lemieux deflected a pass from Jacob Trouba to get the Rangers on the board with 4:45 left in the middle period. It was his fourth of the season and third in the last six games.
The Golden Knights got off to a fast start while outshooting the Rangers 13-3 over the first 10 minutes.
Tuch got Vegas on the scoreboard just 1:34 in. His shot from the left side was stopped by Lundqvist but it trickled past and, as the goalie lunged back, he appeared to get the puck before it crossed the line. However, after a review, the goal counted as replays showed Lundqvist pushed it across the line before pulling it back out.
The Golden Knights went on a power play 18 seconds later as Tuch drew a holding the stick penalty on Rangers defenceman Brady Skjei. Tuch then took advantage on a rush just 2 seconds before the power play expired as he drove to the net on the right side and tipped a perfect pass by Nate Schmidt under a diving Lundqvist at 3:50 to make it 2-0. It was his fourth of the season, and third in two games.
Tomas Nosek beat Lundqvist with 8 1/2 minutes left in the opening period but the puck hit the crossbar.
NOTES
Lundqvist appeared in his 874th game, moving past Tony Esposito (Chicago) for the second-most with one team in NHL history. Martin Brodeur (1,259 with New Jersey) tops the list. … The Rangers went 0 for 2 on the penalty-kill after coming in 20 for 21 over their previous five games, including a stellar effort in which they were 8 for 8 while scoring two short-handed goals in a 4-0 win at New Jersey on Saturday. … The teams conclude their two-game season series on Sunday at Las Vegas. … Pacioretty leads Vegas with 26 points. … The Golden Knights now have 33 goals in the first period, tying Colorado for most in the NHL — though the Avalanche have played three fewer games. … Vegas scored on the power play for the second straight game after going 0 for 9 in the previous four.
UP NEXT
Golden Knights: At New Jersey on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game trip to the New York area.
Rangers: At Columbus on Thursday night to start stretch of five of six on road.
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Vin A. Cherwoo, The Associated Press