Kakko scores in final minute, Rangers defeat Canadiens to end losing streak

NEW YORK -- Kaapo Kakko scored a power-play goal with 24 seconds remaining, and the New York Rangers ended a five-game losing streak by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

The Rangers had a 3-1 lead in the third period, but gave up goals to Cole Caufield at 4:16 and Nick Suzuki at 14:07, each coming after they failed to clear the puck out of the zone.

But Canadiens forward Kirby Dach was called for a double minor for high-sticking Mika Zibanejad at 17:20, setting up the game-winning power-play goal.

"As you know, sometimes when you're trying to get out of something, that first one you get out of might not be the prettiest, and it wasn't," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "But we've got to draw on the positives of what we were able to do from the physicality, the start, the fact that we kicked it up, but we came back and won it. The specialty teams factor into it. I think you just pull all those things out of it and you continue to work your way out."

Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist, Vincent Trocheck scored, and Jonathan Quick made 25 saves for his 398th NHL win.

The Rangers (13-9-1) went 3-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and won for the first time since Nov. 19.

"I think it's been hard lately for us," Kakko said. "All teams have ups and downs and we are not doing well right now, and the third period was pretty bad, but that's something you need, maybe lucky sometimes. They almost got a breakaway, but we scored in the end."

Suzuki and Caufield each assisted on the other's goal in the third period. Mike Matheson scored, and Sam Montembeault made 24 saves for the Canadiens (8-12-3).

"I thought we deserved better," Suzuki said. "I thought we played better than them. It's a tough way to end a game that way giving up a goal that late. Special teams was the big difference. We've done well in those situations so far this season. We'll clean it up tomorrow."

Kakko gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead at 19:36, scoring from below the right face-off circle off a drop pass from Will Cuylle, who got the puck in front of the net off a pass from Zac Jones.

Filip Chytil kept the puck in at the blue line, preventing Jake Evans from going on a potential short-handed breakaway. Jones carried the puck into the left circle, spun and his pass to the middle went off Kaiden Guhle and onto Cuylle's stick.

"I knew Kaapo was behind me," Cuylle said. "I looked to pull their goalie to one side, get it back so he had an open net."

Said Kakko, "When 'Cools' got it, I'm thinking I'm wide open, hopefully he's going to find me. Nice pass by him. Big goal for us."

Caufield made it 3-2 at 4:16, scoring with a low shot through Quick's five-hole from the bottom of the left circle after the Rangers were unable to clear the puck out of the zone with Suzuki keeping it in at the blue line.

Suzuki tied it 3-3 at 14:07 after the Rangers again couldn't get the puck out of the zone.

Montreal got it low and Caufield dropped it to Lane Hutson in the left circle. Hutson found Suzuki across the slot with Quick out past the left post. Suzuki one-timed the pass inside the right post.

"It would have been nice to get one more," Canadiens forward Alex Newhook said. "We had enough looks to get one more."

Dach's high-sticking call on Zibanejad in the Rangers' defensive zone turned the momentum.

"It's pretty much an unlucky play there," Suzuki said.

Panarin gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:02 of the first period. His shot from the above the left face-off circle went past a screened Montembeault and into the top right corner of the net.

Montreal tied it 1-1 on Matheson's goal from above the right hash marks at 11:47.

The Rangers took a 2-1 lead on Trocheck's goal at 19:56. He got a piece of Alexis Lafreniere's shot from in front of the net.

It was the first time in 10 games that the Rangers had a lead after the first period.

Zibanejad extended the lead to 3-1 with his first power-play goal of the season at 17:03 of the second period.

"I like the fact that we had to go through a little bit tonight to get to the win at the end," Laviolette said. "When you're digging out, sometimes it's not this jump to the top with your arms open saying, 'Here I am.' You have to continue to work at it, grind at it and I thought we did that today. We need to bring more of that next game."

NOTES: Matheson returned for the Canadiens after missing two games with a lower-body injury. … Kreider and Chytil each returned for the Rangers after missing time; Kreider the past three games with back spasms and Chytil the past seven with an upper-body injury.