On the night of March 10, the NHL regular season delivered an intense showdown between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers in Moscow time. The game unfolded with both clubs trading chances, and it ultimately went to a dramatic shootout where the Rangers edged out the Canadiens 4–3.
Mika Zibanejad stood out for the Rangers, delivering the decisive shootout goal that sealed the win. In addition to Zibanejad, teammates Alexei Lafrenière, Jacob Trouba, and Patrick Kane found the back of the net during the game’s flow, contributing to a high-energy effort from the visitors. Artemi Panarin tallied an assist hat trick, showcasing his playmaking excellence and his knack for setting teammates up in dangerous spots. Igor Shesterkin anchored the defending corners, stopping 23 of 26 shots faced to keep New York in the fight. Vladimir Tarasenko, despite multiple looks, could not convert and was held off the scoresheet.
For the Canadiens, Cayden Goulet, Alex Belzil, and Josh Anderson provided the offense, each finding a way to beat the Ranger defense at key moments. Denis Guryanov contributed with an assist, continuing his positive impact on the Montreal attack and helping create momentum during critical stretches of the game.
In the standings, the Rangers sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 81 points, a mark that reflects their consistency and depth across a demanding schedule. Montreal, on the other hand, sits in 15th place with 58 points, a reminder of the challenges the team has faced this season as they look to climb back toward the playoff picture.
The evening carried broader narrative significance as Panarin extended his career assist tally in the NHL, surpassing an illustrious benchmark previously held by Ilya Kovalchuk. The record chase highlighted Panarin’s evolving role as a facilitator and his ongoing impact on New York’s offensive schemes. In the history of Russian skaters who have excelled in NHL playmaking, Evgeni Malkin remains a standout figure, having led in assists during his prime hours and continuing to inspire discussions about the league’s most influential playmakers. These milestones added an extra layer of importance to a game that featured strong individual performances, tight team competition, and a reminder of how playmaking can tilt a late-season tilt in a crowded conference.