The New York Rangers will be looking for their third straight victory Thursday when they take on the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. The Canadiens will be desperately seeking to snap a six-game losing streak where the defense has completely failed them.
Read further for up-to-date NHL player stats, NHL odds, and a Rangers vs Canadiens prediction.
New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens Information
NHL New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date: Thursday, January 5, 2023, 7:00 PM
Location of the game: Bell Centre. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
How to Watch: ESPN+
New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Last Game Records
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers took on the Metropolitan Division leaders, the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game that took place on Tuesday night. The Rangers fell behind 2-1 in the first period and 3-2 in the second before taking the game over in the third period with three goals, including an empty netter with a minute left to give the Rangers the victory.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller was the game’s top star, notching a goal and an assist. He scored what would be the game-winning goal. Center Mika Zibanejad scored his 19th goal of the season and also added an assist in the victory. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin was good, but not great in the win, stopping 20 of the 23 shots he faced.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens last took the ice on Tuesday night at Nashville to take on the Predators. The Canadiens did not fare well in the game, falling to the Predators 6-3. Nashville scored the first three goals in the game before right winger Cole Caufield notched his 22nd goal of the season to put the Habs on the board.
Right winger Josh Anderson then scored to make the score 3-2 and Montreal had some hope. However, the defensive issues that have plagued the Canadiens for the last six games reared their ugly head once again as Nashville scored three more unanswered goals to put the game away. Goaltender Sam Montembeault had a rough night, stopping just 28 of the 34 shots he faced.
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens Analysis
New York Rangers Analysis
In terms of Rangers vs Canadiens predictions, the New York Rangers come into play with a record of 21-12-6, good for 48 points. Looking at the NHL standings, the Rangers are in third place in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.
Among NHL teams, the Rangers are 10th overall in the NHL in terms of points. New York has won two straight games and has done so against quality opponents in Carolina and the Florida Panthers. Taking a look at NHL stats, the Rangers are averaging 3.23 goals per game, while allowing just 2.72 goals per contest.
Player Stats
Glancing at NHL player stats, the Rangers are led offensively by left-winger Artemi Panarin, who has 11 goals and 33 assists for 44 points. Zibanejad leads the team with 19 goals. New York has four players with at least 10 goals on the season. Between the pipes, Shesterkin has a record of 18-6-5 with a goals-against average of 2.43 and a save percentage of .917.
Montreal Canadiens Analysis
The Montreal Canadiens come into play with a record of 15-20-3, good for 33 points. Looking at the NHL standings, the Canadiens are currently in eighth place in the Atlantic Division, 29 points behind the Boston Bruins in the division standings. Montreal has lost six games in a row and has not been very competitive, especially as of late. In their last five losses, Montreal has allowed 30 goals, an average of six per game. At the same token, they have scored just 10 goals in that same timeframe. Looking at NHL stats, the Canadiens are averaging 2.61 goals per game, while allowing 3.79 goals per contest.
Player Stats
Glancing at NHL player stats, the Canadiens are led offensively by center Nick Suzuki, who has 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points. Caufield leads the team with 22 goals. Center Kirby Dach leads the team with 18 assists. Montreal has three players with at least 10 goals, with two of those having at least 15. Between the pipes, goaltender Jake Allen has a record of 9-15-1 with a goals-against average of 3.52 and a save percentage of .894.
Odds Breakdown
New York Rangers:
- Moneyline: -210
- Puck Line: -1.5 120
Montreal Canadiens:
- Moneyline: +175
- Puck Line: 1.5 -140
New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens Betting Pick and Prediction
For our Rangers vs Canadiens prediction, The Rangers are likely to be the favorite when the betting information comes out, so there are two bets that will likely hit based on past performances: the over and the Rangers to cover.
- Over: Rangers -1.5
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