Andrei Markov was off for holding when Chris Kreider completed a slick passing play to blast it home for a 3-1 lead.
Then Kreider wheeled away from Alexei Emelin to score his second in a shade over two minutes. It was the Rangers’ fifth shot and third goal of the middle period.
With 4:22 left in the period, Phillip Danault temporarily silenced the boo birds, converting a perfect feed by David Desharnais.
The elation didn’t last. On a power play with 41 seconds left, Serek Stepan restored the Rangers three-goal lead.
New York got on the board three minutes into the game.