Canadiens vs. Rangers: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

It was a difficult night for the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday in the first of back-to-back games. Alex Ovechkin’s quick start helped to chase Carey Price after just one period, and the Habs were unable to bounce back after being trounced in the opening few minutes.

Henrik Lundqvist was also limited to just 20 minutes of action after surrendering five goals to the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the New York Rangers were able to come back and tie the game with Ondrej Pavelec between the pipes, the Leafs scored the last three goals in an 8-5 win.

Both teams will be looking to bounce back in a big way, so tonight’s matchup should be an entertaining one with players fully engaged.

The Habs will also be looking to prove that they are a better team than the one that fell to the Rangers in six games in the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the goaltenders who stole the show throughout that series, and a similar storyline should be expected from the opposing netminders tonight.

The increased animosity may lead to more power plays, giving Montreal ample opportunity to score a first power-play goal this season. They had excellent movement in a furious second-period showing last night, so perhaps tonight is the night Jonathan Drouin, Shea Weber, and co. break out on the man advantage.

The Canadiens have made two moves for tonight’s game, removing Mark Streit and Ales Hemsky from the lineup, and replacing them with Brandon Davidson and Torrey Mitchell.

Puck drop is at 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT

How to watch

In Canada: SN1 (English), RDS (French)
In the United States: NHLN-US, MSG+
Elsewhere: NHL.tv/NHL Game Centre Live, NHL Center Ice

Montréal Canadiens projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders

New York Rangers projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders