Lang hat-trick powers Canadiens past Rangers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ryan Lang grabbed a hat-trick in an explosive third period to power the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

After Andrei Markov broke a 2-2 tie early in the final period, Lang unleashed three straight goals to give the Canadiens a fifth win in six contests but their first on New York''s home ice in their last five attempts.

Montreal move to 23-10-6 and Lang now has 16 goals for the season with four in his last two games.

The Rangers (24-15-3) fell into a tie with the Philadelphia Flyers for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak tied a season-high with 36 saves in his third straight start in place of Carey Price, who was again ruled out through injury.

Henrik Lundqvist, who was coming off his first shutout of the season in New York''s 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, surrendered five scores in just 24 shots.

The Rangers were able to stay close in what was a give and take game before the third period. Chris Drury tied things for New York with a goal at 17:22 in the first, following up Alexei Kovalev''s opening score.

Guillaume Latendresse put Montreal up 2-1 before Ryan Callan answered with his 12th goal of the season at 9:25 into the second.

Michal Rozsival pulled the Rangers to within 4-3 in the third after back-to-back power play goals by Markov and Lang, who added two more scores to put the game away.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner, editing by Nick Mulvenney)