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The Rangers have played well over the last two games, rebounding from what may have been rock bottom in San Jose. They beat two playoff-bound Atlantic teams, and are now headed to Montreal to face a Canadiens team that is free falling. There was a time in October/November when people were guessing if it would be the Rangers or the Canadiens that tanked in the standings after unsustainable starts. It wound up being Montreal, who should rename the team to the Montreal Carey Prices.

As for the Rangers, well they are managing their games better. Playing better possession hockey and better defense. The forward lines are a bit of a mess, but honestly you can make any combination in that top-nine and be fine. If the fourth line can hold its own –not getting into a Tanner Glass argument in a game thread– then the team will be fine. But that’s a major if, and has been all season.

Habs Systems

Under Michel Therrien, the Canadiens play a 1-2-2 forecheck, but do use a 2-1-2 style from time to time based on the score and puck location. Though this team prefers to want to play passive and clog up the neutral zone. Like the Rangers, Montreal’s defensive zone system is to overload when the puck is along the boards and man-on-man when the puck is down low.

What’s interesting is that Therrien has said in the past that they overload the boards because of their team size and speed (note: small and fast). On special teams, the Habs play your standard umbrella powerplayOn the penalty kill, they rotate between a diamond force and a box depending on puck location. They really look to pressure the opposition all over the ice when shorthanded.

Habs Lines

Max Pacioretty-Alex Galchenyuk-Michael McCarron
David Desharnais-Tomas Plekanec-Lars Eller
Philip Danault-Torrey Mitchell-Sven Andrighetto
Stefan Mattean-Jacob De La Rose-Paul Byron

Andrei Markov-Alexei Emelin
Nathan Beaulieu-Greg Pateryn
Joel Hanley-Darren Dietz

PP1: Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Byron-Markov-Emelin
PP2: Eller-Plekanec-McCarron-Beaulieu-Pateryn

PK: Byron, Eller, Plekanec, Pacioretty, Emelin, Markov, Beaulieu, Pateryn

Mike Condon gets the start

Rangers Lines

Chris KreiderDerick BrassardRick Nash
JT MillerDerek StepanMats Zuccarello
Kevin HayesEric StaalJesper Fast
Tanner GlassDominic MooreViktor Stalberg

Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi
Keith YandleKevin Klein
Marc StaalDan Boyle

PP1: Yandle-Klein-Miller-Hayes-Fast
PP2: Zucc-Boyle-Kreider-Stepan-Brassard

PK: Stepan, Moore, Nash, Fast, Glass, McDonagh, Staal, Klein, Girardi

Antti Raanta gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Oscar Lindberg (healthy), Dylan McIlrath (knee)

Crazy Prediction: Three in a row!

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 7pm on MSG. All gifs will be on nyrgifs.com.

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