The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers meet Saturday in NHL action at Madison Square Garden. Here’s a Rangers vs Canadiens Prediction. This article will include a Rangers vs Canadiens Pick.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Penguins, lost to the Lightning, and they play the Oilers next. The Canadiens have split their last 8 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.17 goals per game and are scoring 25.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 17 goals, Nick Suzuki has 26 assists and Juraj Slafkovsky has 60 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.5 goals per game and are killing 77.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 50 goals on 443 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 49 goals on 343 shots.
New York Rangers Betting Preview
The New York Rangers lost to the Blackhawks and Golden Knights, and they play the Ducks next. The Rangers have lost 3 straight games.
The New York Rangers are averaging 2.56 goals per game and are scoring 18.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Mika Zibanejad leads New York with 11 goals, Adam Fox has 23 assists, and Artemi Panarin has 84 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Rangers are allowing 2.63 goals per game and are killing 80.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Igor Shesterkin has allowed 62 goals on 706 shots faced, while Jonathan Quick has given up 13 goals on 205 shots.
Why the New York Rangers will win
- The Canadiens have lost eight of their last nine road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Rangers have won each of their last four games against the Canadiens following a road loss.
- The Rangers have covered the puck line in eight of their last nine night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight night games against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Canadiens have lost the third period in each of their last six night games against opponents on a losing streak.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Rangers have lost nine of their last 10 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Canadiens have won each of their last four games as road underdogs against opponents on a losing streak.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Rangers’ last six games.
- The Rangers have failed to cover the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Rangers have lost the third period in each of their last five games as favorites when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the last eight games between the Canadiens and Rangers have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the Canadiens’ last six games against Metropolitan Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the last four games between the Canadiens and Rangers.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last seven games following a road win.
New York Rangers Player Prop Facts
- Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one point in each of his last 13 appearances against the Canadiens.
- Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Rangers’ last eight games against the Canadiens.
- Mika Zibanejad has scored at least one goal in each of the Rangers’ last six games against the Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Nick Suzuki has recorded an assist in nine of the Canadiens’ last 10 games.
- Nick Suzuki has scored at least one goal in each of the Canadiens’ last four games against the Rangers.
- Cole Caufield has recorded at least one point in 12 of the Canadiens’ last 13 games.
Matchup/League Facts
- The New York Rangers rank 29th in the league for goals per game this season (2.56).
- The New York Rangers rank 6th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.63).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank T29th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.50).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 5th in the league in power play percentage this season (25.58%).
Rangers vs Canadiens Prediction
The Rangers are probably the better team and probably should be favored at home. However, as I’ve said before, the Rangers have been an easy team to bet on this season. You bet on the Rangers on the road and fade them at home. It’s worked out up to this point, as just 3 of the Rangers 15 wins have come on their home ice. It also doesn’t hurt that the Habs have 9 road wins this season. I’ll keep fading the Rangers at home until they get their act together. Give me the Canadiens and the plus money.