New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Yanic Perreault had a goal and an assist to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a season-opening 4-1 win over the New York Rangers. Richard Zednik, Joe Juneau and Mariusz Czerkawski also scored for the Canadiens, who won their second straight season opener and snapped an eight- game winless streak (0-7-1) against the Rangers.

Jose Theodore stopped 20 shots for the Canadiens, who returned to the playoffs last season after a three-year absence.

Mikael Samuelsson scored the lone goal for the Rangers, who fell in their home opener after beginning the season with a 4-1 win in Carolina. Mike Richter turned aside 22 shots in the loss as Ranger fans got their first look at new head coach Bryan Trottier.

The Habs trailed 1-0 after one period of play, but grabbed the lead with three unanswered goals in the second stanza.

Zednik scored at 1:45 of the period to knot the score. The Czech winger ripped a slap shot from the high slot to beat Richter stick-side.

Montreal would take its first lead of the game on Juneau's tally at 9:07 of the middle period. Perreault skated with the puck after a Rangers turnover and sent a shot in on Richter, who was able to make a save. Oleg Petrov collected the rebound just below the left circle and flicked the puck through the crease. Juneau then took advantage of an out-of-position Richter and backhanded the puck into the net.

Perreault scored a power-play goal at 12:39 of the second period to push Montreal's lead to 3-1. Andrei Markov took a shot from the left point and Perreault, who was positioned in front of the crease, was able to deflect the puck past Richter.

Samuelsson had given the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 8:56 of the first period. Samuelsson pushed the puck into the Canadiens' zone and faked a pass to Matthew Barnaby before beating Theodore with a wrister from the left circle.

Czerkawski, who was acquired from the New York Islanders in the offseason, added an empty-net goal in the third period for his first tally in a Canadiens sweater.

The Habs had dropped four straight at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers' last loss to Montreal came on April 5, 2000

New York was without star forward Pavel Bure, who had missed much of the pre- season with a knee injury and is now battling a case of strep throat.