But the Rangers scored two of their own in the final period to pull away, much to the dismay of the tough critics in the stands as Montreal fell to 3-3 at home.
"In Montreal, the fans know the game so much," coach Claude Julien said. "It's easy to criticize, it's easy to get praised. They get really emotional.
"There's no doubt some players probably feel it a little more than others, but overall we're happy with our fans and we like them the way they are."
Rivet, an Ontario native, has been with the Canadiens since the 1994-1995 season. He has seen the ups and downs and feels a kinship with Yankees players and the scrutiny they fall under in New York.
STAYING AWAY
Sidney Crosby has never been to New York City, and the 18-year-old phenom can wait to get there.
In his first 13 NHL games, Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins made three visits to the New York metropolitan area (two trips to New Jersey and one to Long Island) but this year's No. 1 draft pick stayed out of Manhattan.
The Penguins will play the Rangers on the road four times this season, including this Monday, and back-to-back contests on Jan. 28 and Feb. 1.
"Madison Square Garden, I know the history of that building. But every place is fun to go to right now," Crosby said.
"It's all new and it's all a new experience. I really look forward to going to new places and seeing new cities."
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