The New York Rangers (22-20-3) travel to face off against the Montreal Canadiens (22-19-4) on Sunday, January 19th. This game will be played at Bell Centre in Montreal and televised on NHLN. The Rangers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Canadiens are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Penguins. Puck drop is set for 7:00 ET.
Rangers vs Canadiens
The New York Rangers Are Coming Off A Win
The Rangers moved above .500 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders, bringing their record to 22-20-3. As -1.5 goal favorites, the Rangers covered the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark.
Four different players scored for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. Chris Kreider opened the scoring at 16:16 in the first period. The Rangers’ defense kept the Islanders scoreless in the third period to secure the win.
The Montreal Canadiens Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Montreal fell to 22-19-4 after a 3-1 loss to the Penguins. The Canadiens were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 set before the game.
All of Pittsburgh’s goals came before Montreal got on the board, with Christian Dvorak scoring at 14:28 in the third period. The Penguins added an empty-net goal at 19:15 to seal the game.
New York Offense Breakdown
In their 5-2 win over the Islanders, the Rangers took 40 shots on goal and scored 5 times. Artemi Panarin netted his 8th goal on a power play and later added an empty-netter for his 9th. Adam Edstrom also scored, marking his first goal of the season.
Chris Kreider got things started with his 8th goal, which came shorthanded. Vincent Trocheck added his 4th goal of the year. Mika Zibanejad picked up his 8th assist on Panarin’s empty-netter and also assisted on Kreider’s goal, bringing his assist total to 7 this season.
Canadiens Offense Breakdown
Montreal’s offense struggled in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh, managing just one goal, which came from Christian Dvorak at 14:28 in the third period. It was Dvorak’s first goal of the season, while Emil Heineman picked up his first assist and Juraj Slafkovsky added his seventh.
The Canadiens fired 26 shots on goal but were unable to convert on any of their 20 giveaways. They were also held scoreless on the power play.
New York Team Defense
Defensively, the Rangers will look to carry over their performance from the previous game, where they allowed just 2 goals to the Islanders. Igor Shesterkin recorded 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The Rangers’ defense also contributed 10 takeaways, 19 hits, and 18 blocks.
Montreal Team Defense
Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals in their last game, with both coming late in periods. The first was at 15:57 in the first, and the second was at 18:40 in the second. The Canadiens pulled within 2-1 in the third, but they allowed an empty-net goal at 19:15, leading to a 3-1 loss. Sam Montembeault posted a 91.3% save percentage on 23 shots from Pittsburgh.
Rangers vs Canadiens Trends
- When looking at their past ten road matchups, New York has an puck line record of 5-5 while averaging 2 per game. The team went 4-6 overall in these games.
- In their last ten games at home, the Canadiens have a straight up record of 6-4 while going 6-4 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 3 goals per game in these contests.
- Montreal has done well both straight up and vs the puck line when favored to win the game, going 2-1 SU and 2-1 puck line in their last three games.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Rangers have a strong straight up record of 3-0. In addition, their puck line record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
Rangers vs Canadiens Prediction
For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Rangers to pick up on a win over the Canadiens and the road. With the moneyline sitting at -117, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Rangers straight-up.
For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Canadiens to cover. Even if the Rangers secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Canadiens should cover the puck line.
If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 19, 2025 Canadiens, Rangers