NEW YORK _ Desperate for points at home after losing two straight games on the road, the Rangers had a plan against the Senators, who were playing their third game in four days.
Grind, get pucks out of their zone, cash in on opportunities.
On Sunday night, the strategy worked as the Blueshirts responded with a gritty 3-0 victory that lifted their record to 10-9-2.
The scenario heading into the third period was familiar to the Rangers. They were tied at 1 after two in Chicago on Wednesday and had finished the second down 1-0 in Columbus. Both games slipped away from them in the third. This one ended differently.
The Rangers were leading 1-0 on Kevin Hayes' goal at 4:46 of the second after some strong work along the boards by Jesper Fast. Then Michael Grabner, from between the circles, tipped Marc Staal's wrister past Craig Anderson, who was screened by J.T. Miller, at 4:52 of the third for the two-goal edge. Former Senator Mika Zibanejad scored his 10th into an empty net from his own blue line with 2:29 left.
It was Rangers' first matchup since the Senators ousted them in the second round of the playoffs last spring. The Rangers had to battle short-handed after Brendan Smith drew a questionable five-minute major for interference in a chase for the puck when he shouldered Mark Borowiecki. The Senator lost his balance and slammed into the end boards, and Smith was given a game misconduct at 7:32. The penalty-killers, led by Rick Nash and Brady Skjei, outworked the power play, allowing just one shot on goal, earning a standing ovation at Madison Square Garden.
That helped Henrik Lundqvist, who made 20 saves for his second shutout of the season. It was the 63rd of his career and one of the easiest thanks to a strong defensive effort. The Rangers are 8-4-2 at home.
After a scoreless first, Hayes whipped his fifth of the season past Anderson for the first Rangers goal in more than four periods. Fast, who worked the puck along the wall before flipping a backhand pass to Hayes, received the primary assist and Jimmy Vesey the second. Mats Zuccarello had assists on both third-period goals.
If there was any negative, it was the 0-for-3 power play, extending a streak to 0-for-9.
The Senators, who lost Saturday to the Coyotes, were a step quicker to start the game, but couldn't score on two early power plays.
The Rangers had the two best chances while short-handed. With Smith off for slashing at 4:28, Rick Nash poked the puck away at center ice and sped down the left side on a two-on-one. He fed Hayes, who passed back to him darting to the left post. But the puck rolled on end, and Nash's tip from about 10 feet went wide.
After Kevin Shattenkirk skied the puck into the crowd _ a delay-of-game minor _ at 7:17, Boo Nieves had a long shot denied and then skated through a loose rebound in the crease. Nieves later was stopped on a low shot from about 12 feet in front after a behind-the-net feed from Paul Carey.
With 3:24 left, Lundqvist made the save of the game, sliding left to right to smother Mike Hoffman's snap shot. His teammates made it easier for him after that.
