Chris Kreider scored twice in a 2:23 span of the second period to break open a one-goal game and the Rangers cruised to a 5-2 victory over the depleted Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday.
Kreider, who also received an assist when he fired wide left of Canadiens goaltender Mike Condon earlier in the period on a power-play rush and Derick Brassard buried the carom off the end boards, tied a career high for points in a game and a period.
The win gave the Rangers (43-24-8, 94 points), who have won three games in a row and are in second place in the Metropolitan Division, a little cushion for a showdown Sunday at home against the third-place Penguins, who have 90 points and a game in hand after a 7-2 win over the Red Wings on Saturday.