The Rangers enjoyed a rare stretch filled with rookie debuts, milestones and wins, but reality is one heck of a buzzkill.
Canadiens star Cole Caufield delivered the reality check.
Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden snapped the Blueshirts’ three-game win streak, as Caufield potted goals No. 48 and 49 of his season to stifle the home team’s two-goal third-period comeback.
There was a notable amount of Montreal jerseys in the MSG stands to see it.
You could hear just how many there were after each Canadiens goal.
And they shot out of their MSG seats as Caufield made a slick move around Vladislav Gavrikov with just over five minutes left in regulation to put Montreal ahead.
Entering the game, the Rangers had picked up points in nine consecutive games (7-0-2) against the Canadiens, as well as in 14 of their last 17 meetings (12-3-2), dating back to Nov. 2019.
The nine-game point streak — the first since Nov. 23, 1939-Dec. 5, 1940 — was tied for the longest in series history.