NEW YORK — After the Montreal Canadiens scored a pair of first period goals within two minutes of each other Saturday night, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan considered calling a timeout. He talked to his assistants on the bench about it, but they opted against it.

“We didn’t feel like it was necessary based on the way the group was playing,” Sullivan said after his team came back to pull off a 5-4 win.

The coach liked the way his team started the game. He liked how his top two lines generated looks in their first shifts. He liked that the team didn’t allow a shot until Zachary Bolduc’s goal 12:41 into the first. He liked the process.

“I honestly thought we started really well, and then they got a couple, which was unfortunate,” rookie Noah Laba said. “But I thought we did a good job not wavering from our game. Just trying to keep at it.”

Montreal scored a third time when Jake Evans beat goalie Igor Shesterkin short side, but Sullivan still didn’t call a timeout. His team responded by cutting the deficit to 3-2 by the end of the period thanks to a Laba power-play goal and an Artemi Panarin penalty shot, which he buried. That gave the Rangers a jolt heading into the first intermission.

The Canadiens scored early in the second period, but New York once again didn’t waver, rallying to tie the game at 4-4 before winning in overtime with a J.T. Miller slapshot on a four-on-three power play.

“We just kept digging in,” Sullivan said. “That’s a credit to the players … their resilience, just to fight through some of the adversity. … I think that helps to galvanize a group and it also provides evidence for our team, if we get in those situations again, what we’re capable of.”

Here are 11 thoughts from the eventful game.

1. Miller’s game-winner was, in Sullivan’s words, a “heavy, heavy shot,” and Mika Zibanejad teed him up perfectly with a feed. Miller shot it from the offensive zone faceoff circle, where he often practices one-timers.

The goal was Miller’s second of the game. He tied it in the second period after Montreal goalie Jacob Fowler, making his second career start, allowed a juicy rebound off a Matthew Robertson shot. Miller grabbed possession and flung it through Fowler’s legs.

“The two goals that he scored are prototypical J.T. Miller hockey,” Sullivan said. “One’s at the blue paint where he plays his power game, and then the overtime winner, that one timer is a missile. That’s a goal scorer’s goal.”

WON IT WITH A ONE-TIMER 💥 pic.twitter.com/Txlu3Pt7qR

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 14, 2025

THAT’S OUR CAPTAIN 🫡 pic.twitter.com/FmcdZTOGef

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 14, 2025

2. New York might have had a solid start, but it still allowed Montreal to score three goals in a four-minute span of the first period. Carson Soucy lost track of Bolduc as he darted into the slot to receive a Nick Suzuki pass for the first goal, and Josh Anderson screened Shesterkin well when Arber Xhekaj let a shot fly from the point. It found the back of the net shortly after Montreal nearly scored on a two-on-one.

“I don’t even think from the beginning we gave up too many chances, but the chances we did give up were pretty high danger,” Laba said. “They’re a team that’s really good on the rush and converting on those chances.”

The Rangers tightened as the game went on. They led in shot attempts, 75-54, per Natural Stat Trick, and allowed fewer than 20 in each period. Natural Stat Trick credited Montreal with only three five-on-five high-danger chances, all in the first period.

“I think we played well a lot of that game,” Miller said. “Don’t get wrapped up in giving up four goals. The chance sheet is going to look nice. I don’t think we gave up a lot of scoring chances today. We’re happy with that game. We have to find ways to win every single way.”

3. The Rangers hadn’t scored on the power play in their previous six games. They got two goals with the man advantage against the Canadiens.

Sullivan went with an altered five-forward top power-play unit. Zibanejad played quarterback rather than Panarin, who was on a wing along with Miller, while Vincent Trocheck was on the bumper and Alexis Lafrenière handled net front duties. That unit didn’t score — New York still hasn’t scored with a five-forward unit since Adam Fox’s injury — but the second unit delivered. Will Cuylle passed to Laba in front of the net, and while Fowler made the initial save, Laba put home the rebound.

Panarin drew the overtime penalty on an Evans slash, and Sullivan sent out four forwards: Zibanejad, Panarin, Trocheck and Miller.

4. With the Rangers trailing 4-2 in the second, Cuylle made a play coaches will rarely complain about. Matthew Robertson fired a shot that hit off the end boards and bounced to the winger from behind the goal line. He sent it into the crease, and it appeared to bounce off Fowler’s stick and in.

Cuylle scored a six-on-five goal last week against Dallas by getting the puck to the net. It’s unpredictable and, every so often, ends in goals.

5. Laba, Robertson and Conor Sheary all had two-point nights. I bet that wasn’t on many folks’ bingo cards.

Labs off the rebound 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZcuCO92f6C

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 14, 2025

6. Lafrenière said the Rangers talked about needing a response from a disappointing 3-0 loss in Chicago.

“I think we did,” he said. “We played a pretty solid game.”

“That’s really important,” Panarin added. “Against Chicago, it looked like we were not ready before the game.”

7. On Panarin’s penalty shot, he beat Fowler with a wrist shot past his blocker. It was the winger’s first penalty shot of his career. He said he felt some panic before the attempt.

“Everyone in the rink was too excited,” he said. “Ice was not the best in the last minute. I’m glad I scored.” 

8. Sam Carrick was nearly the hero. He appeared to score the go-ahead goal on a goal-mouth scramble in the third, but the referees reviewed the play and ruled he kicked the puck in.

9. Sullivan scratched rookie Scott Morrow in favor of Urho Vaakanainen.

“I think there’s been some good, and then there’s been moments where we’d like to see growth,” Sullivan said of Morrow before the game. “I don’t think that’s atypical of any young player, especially a young defenseman.”

10. Let’s highlight some moments that might’ve gone overlooked. Still trailing 3-0 at the end of the first period, the Rangers had a power play. The top unit generated looks but no goals, so the second unit took the ice. Evans got the puck for what looked like a breakaway, but Vladislav Gavrikov, who played a team-high 27:56, chased him down and disrupted his shot. If Evans had been able to finish, that would’ve put the Rangers in a 4-0 hole. Instead, they got possession back and Laba scored to bring them within two.

“Huge,” Laba said of the play. “He’s got a great defensive stick. It’s special to watch him do his thing.”

Fast forward to overtime: Trocheck won two huge faceoffs against Suzuki on the Rangers’ power play, ever important in overtime when there’s more open space at four-on-three. Miller pointed out that, if Montreal wins the draw, it might’ve gotten a quick clear and eaten 20 seconds of time off the clock. Instead, the Rangers started with possession, and Miller eventually came through.

“He’s obviously been elite (at faceoffs) since he’s been in the league,” Miller said. “It’s a really nice quality to have, especially when they have Suzuki — he’s a right-handed guy — in overtime. … His faceoffs were gigantic.”

11. Longtime broadcaster Sam Rosen returned to the Garden to emcee the evening’s centennial celebration, which recognized the 1967-1991 teams. Twenty-two Rangers alums were recognized on the ice pregame, including Brad Park, Dave Maloney and John Davidson.