The Rangers can’t buy a goal, and it’s starting to get frustrating. The good news is the process is good despite injuries, allowing just 8 goals in regulation. The bad news is they’ve scored once in three games and have just 11 goals in 6 games. That’s not good, and no matter how good the process is and how good the defense is, there’s only so much the goalies can do. Montreal is another tough challenge too, with strong goaltending and a surprisingly deep lineup.

The Rangers essentially shut down all three of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Auston Matthews over the last two games. Montreal doesn’t have that kind of star, but they are well built and far better than many are giving them credit. Sam Montembeault was the only goalie ahead of Igor Shesterkin in GSAx last season, so he’s the real deal as well. This should be a solid matchup, assuming the Rangers can find the back of the net.

Rangers lines

Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-JT Miller-Conor Sheary
Juuso Parssinen-Noah Laba-Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe

Vlad Gavrikov-Adam Fox
Matthew Robertson-Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen-Braden Schneider

PP1: Fox, Panarin, Lafreniere, Zibanejad, Miller
PP2: Schneider, Sheary, Cuylle, Panarin, Rempe

Jonathan Quick gets the start.

Habs lines

Cole Caufield-Nick Suzuki-Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook-Oliver Kapanen-Ivan Demidov
Zack Bolduc-Joe Veleno-Owen Beck
Josh Anderson-Jake Evans-Brendan Gallagher

Mike Matheson-Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble-Lane Hutson
Arber Xhekaj-Alex Carrier

Sam Montembeault gets the start.

Game time is 7pm.

More About: