Rangers forward Michael Grabner was scratched, and after the game was traded to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Yegor Rykov and the Devils second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Rangers forward Rick Nash was also scratched for precautionary reasons. Nash can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and could be traded ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline (Monday, 3 p.m. ET).
"I mean, that's the way it is," Vigneault said. "At the end of the day, you've got to focus on what you need to do to go out on the ice and play a good game. And that's what the 20 skaters that we have in every night, that's what they need to focus on."
Plekanec made it 1-0 at 6:59 of the first period. He scored his sixth goal from the right post off a cross-crease pass from Paul Byron.
Petry scored at 3:50 of the second period to make it 2-0. He drove the right side and shot past Georgiev following a cross-ice pass from Charles Hudon.
Kevin Hayes made it 2-1 at 17:00 of the third period after a video review determined that the puck was directed into the net off his stick after kicking it forward.
"I mean, we tried our best out there, but as of right now we're not good enough," Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello said.
Danault scored an empty-net goal at 18:43 to make it 3-1.
"You look around the room, it's been a while since we've been able to put the smiles on our faces," Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher said. "There have been games where obviously we didn't deserve to win. There have been a couple where we fought pretty hard and just didn't get the result. So, it's nice for this group to have a win. And regardless of what happens all year, this is the feeling that you play for."
