NEW YORK – The Montreal Canadiens were the last team the Rangers beat in 2007.

Now, the Habs became the first team the Blueshirts beat in 2008.

Because of a five game losing streak, New York had the embarrassing situation of being 0-for-the New Year but with a strong effort by Henrik Lundqvist and four goals, the Rangers finally get their first January victory with a 4-1 win.

“We finally got rewarded,” said Lundqvist, who took a shutout into the third. “We finally got a game where we didn’t lose focus. Special teams were very important and we took a lot of penalties [8]. Otherwise we worked really well.”

The Rangers were without both Sean Avery and Brendan Shanahan, but it didn’t matter with the scoring being picked up by four different Rangers from three different lines to back Lundqvist’s 18 save effort.

“I thought each line went out and played with a purpose,” added coach Tom Renney. “I liked the way we maintained a level of commitment. On our bench everyone game each other support.”

The Rangers netminder was solid doing the things that made him the NHL’s top goaltender for most of the first half of the season. He was able to cool down the Canadiens by stopping two five-one-three power plays – both over one minute each – during the second and ending any chance for Montreal in this game.

“I tried to be a little more aggressive and play more on my toes,” Lundqvist said. “The last couple of games I have been off to a good start and playing on my toes nut then I let a couple of goals in and started to play on my heals instead.”

With No. 30 back in focus - after being distracted the last few weeks with his father recovering from a brain aneurism back in Sweden – the Rangers were able to get the lead and sit on it.

Chris Drury was able to open the scoring at 3:17 after flip-flopping the puck with Marcel Hossa down the slot and beating Cristobal Huet, who has 24 saves before getting pulled after the second.

“I think [scoring first] always gives us a raise,” said Drury, who was the game’s first star. “It’s also pretty deflating to the other team. We’ve been on the other end of that.”

Later in the period, Marty Straka - who was playing his first game since Jan. 5 when he suffered a concussion in Edmonton - was able to beat Huet with 6:40 left, when Jaromir Jagr had a beautiful individual effort and skated the puck in front of the net to feed Straka, making it 2-0.

“He comes back and scores a huge goal for us,” said Scott Gomez, who got the third assist on the goal. “He brings it every night and we need him. We need everyone to get healthy, but Marty, he was good tonight.

Looking solid after one, the Rangers followed-up - unlike on Thursday when the Philadelphia Flyers scored six goals after a 2-0 Ranger lead – third liners Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes were able to make it 4-0 giving the Rangers a commanding lead and chasing Huet in favor of Jaroslav Halak.

“We were certainly more focused and more determined and it showed right from the start,” Drury said. “It shows what we can do when we are more focused and disciplined and play as a team. We do know it’s there, we just have to be more consistent.”

And tonight was just a step into getting hot in 2008.

Notes: Garden chairman James Dolan was at the game and visited the locker room afterwards…Brendan Shanahan was scratched because of his balky left knee, but us expected back on Monday in Pittsburgh…Sean Avery was also a scratch due to his bad wrist..Marek Malik played for the first time in a few games, replacing Jason Strudwick, who was a healthy scratch.