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Canadiens 3, Rangers 1

denis gorman, the sports xchange

NEW YORK -- Rookie Alex Galchenyuk's tiebreaking goal early in the third period powered the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night.

Rafael Diaz and Max Pacioretty also scored for Montreal, which improved to 11-4-1 this season. Goaltender Carey Price made 24 saves.

The Rangers fell to 8-6-1. Anton Stralman scored New York's lone goal. Henrik Lundqvist made 17 saves.

Tied 1-1 in the third, Galchenyuk pool-cued a cross-ice feed from linemate Brandon Prust under Lundqvist for the game-winning goal. Galchenyuk's goal came 3:03 after Pacioretty tied the game at 1-1. Pacioretty ripped slapshot that a screened Lundqvist didn't see.

Stralman's second goal of the season, 12:29 into the second period, began the scoring. The New York defenseman whacked a rebound over Price's pads into the net.

Diaz's empty net goal with a minute remaining ended the scoring.

Lundqvist was momentarily injured in the second period when he was struck by a P.K. Subban slapshot. The goaltender flexed his arm for a few moments but did not leave the game.

NOTES: Brandon Prust made his Garden debut as a member of the Canadiens Tuesday. A Ranger for two-and-a-half years, Prust agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract with Montreal on the first day of free agency. "(I) made a lot of friends, love the city, great organization. It's kind of a kick start to my hockey career," Prust said. "(Montreal) made some good changes in the offseason (and) you like to think you're a piece of that puzzle; you brought some good things to that dressing room and out on the ice. That's what I try to do on the ice. It's been a whole bunch of the things that have come together to bring us success." ... Rick Nash missed the game due to an undisclosed injury. "No," Tortorella said before the game when asked for an update on the left wing's condition. "He's a very good player (but it gives) other people (an) opportunity. So we go play." ... Brandon Mashinter made his Rangers debut last night. He was called up from AHL Connecticut Monday after left wing Darroll Powe was placed on the injured reserve with a concussion. "I have no idea," Tortorella said when asked what he expected to see from Mashinter.