Game 31: Montreal Canadiens @ New York Rangers
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the Rangers region: MSG
Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
It was a surprising season for the New York Rangers in 2024-25 when a team that had looked like it was trending toward contender status often looked disinterested in putting in any effort and never recovered on the way to missing the playoffs. The lack of urgency was felt most at home where they finished with a .500 points percentage from a 19-19-3 record.
Rangers fans wish their team had mediocre results at Madison Square Garden this year. Instead they have three wins in 14 games played, registering just nine points through one-third of their home schedule. Only the Vancouver Canucks, who just traded their franchise player yesterday as they start to rebuild their roster, have a lower points percentage on home ice, and every NHL team has a better record in road games.
New York is included in the teams that have performed better on the road than their own home results, leading the NHL with 12 road wins, and that’s why they don’t rank at the bottom of the league with the Canucks. They’re actually just a point out of a wild-card spot, and could therefore move into a playoff position with a win today.
The issue for them tonight is that the Montreal Canadiens have an even better record on the road than the one holding the Rangers in the playoff race. Montreal is 9-3-2 for the league’s fourth-highest points percentage of .714 in games not played on home ice.
Tale of the Tape
Canadiens
Statistics
Rangers
16-11-3
Record
15-13-4
48.6% (21st)
Expected-goal share
50.4% (15th)
3.17 (10th)
Goals per game
2.56 (29th)
3.50 (29th)
Goals against per game
2.63 (6th)
25.6% (5th)
PP%
18.1% (21st)
77.6% (25th)
PK%
80.9% (16th)
0-1-0
Head-to-Head Record (24-25)
1-0-0
Cole Caufield (17)
Most goals
Mika Zibanejad (11)
Nick Suzuki (26)
Most assists
Adam Fox (23)
Nick Suzuki (34)
Most points
Artemiy Panarin (32)
The Habs’ most recent win in their road whites came Thursday in Pittsburgh as Jacob Fowler made a victorious debut in the NHL. He has gotten the call again tonight to play in one of the most iconic arenas in the world for his second game at the top level. Several players remarked at how calm he was in his first match, and they can now start the game knowing that their rookie can hold the fort and won’t need to be quite so focused on keeping pucks from reaching him.
The Canadiens have made a few changes to the lineup despite the win last game. Jake Evans’s return was expected as it was initially stated that he would return to the team today, and he spells Jared Davidson from the lineup. That means that Owen Beck remains in after he played a solid game, helping to create the first goal and scoring one himself before it was taken off the board on an offside review. Arber Xhekaj is also replacing Jayden Struble, so Adam Engström will play again over one of the defencemen who made the opening-night roster. Engström was using his speed well in the game, especially to make a few great defensive plays to help preserve his team’s lead.
It is a bit amazing what the Canadiens have been able to do with so many rookies in the fold. In years past, their additions to the lineup were mostly encouraging glimpses of what the Canadiens had during losing seasons. Now, the quality of the prospect pool is so strong that players are capable of jumping in and helping the team win. The five rookies who play in New York City this evening will be working to improve Montreal’s road record further, and perhaps vault the team back into a playoff spot.
