Canadiens vs. Rangers Odds
| Canadiens Odds | +180 |
| Rangers Odds | -225 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (-110 / -110) |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Atlantic Division's eighth-place Montreal Canadiens travel to New York to take on the Metropolitan Division's second-place Rangers. This is the third meeting between these two teams this season as the Rangers have won both of the previous matchups.
Will the Rangers prevail once again, or can the Canadiens pull off the upset as a large road underdog?
Canadiens Struggling Down the Stretch
The Montreal Canadiens enter this contest following Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins. Sunday's loss was Montreal's ninth straight loss and eighth straight loss by at least a two-goal margin.
The Canadiens have clearly packed it up for the season as they are just getting steamrolled every single night, and this matchup should be no different. Over their last 10 games as a road underdog, the Canadiens are just 3-7 with five of those seven losses coming by at least a two-goal margin.
Carey Price was absent from practice Tuesday morning, and the rumor is that he will be shut down once again for the last few games of the season. That being said, we should expect to see Sam Montembeault between the pipes for Montreal in this game.
Montembeault has been awful recently as he has lost seven straight games, posting a troubling 0.876 save percentage over that stretch. Of those seven losses, five have been by two or more goals.
This season as a whole has been tough for Montembeault as he possesses a mere 0.892 save percentage. Montembeault will get absolutely no help in front of him either as the Canadiens rank just 23rd in the league in five-on-five Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF) and 31st in five-on-five Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Rangers Looking for a Win on a Back-to-Back
The New York Rangers enter this matchup on the second half of a back-to-back following Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. This could be a massive game against the Canadiens because if the Rangers beat Carolina in regulation, then they will be just two points behind the Hurricanes for the division title with a game in hand.
If the Rangers are going to steal the division, then they absolutely must beat the Canadiens. On home ice against a team that has an average losing margin of 2.56 goals during its nine-game losing streak, this game cannot and should not be thrown away by the Rangers.
The goaltending situation for New York is unclear, and I think It will depend on the outcome of Tuesday's game. If New York wins on Tuesday, Igor Shesterkin may start again as the division title would be attainable.
However, if New York loses, then we may see Alexandar Georgiev in net as the Rangers would be locked into the two-seed, and they could get away with resting Shesterkin. Either way, the Rangers should roll past Montreal as the Canadiens are in horrible form.
The Rangers have been in great form recently as they have won seven of their last nine games prior to Tuesday. All seven of those wins have come by at least a two-goal margin.
Canadiens vs. Rangers Pick
It will be interesting to track the line movement in this game based on the conclusion of Tuesday night's Hurricanes/Rangers game. If New York wins, then this line will swing even further in the Rangers' direction.
However, if New York loses, I would not be surprised if the stars get limited minutes on Wednesday. Either way, I am backing New York as Montreal is probably not good enough to keep it close, even if the Rangers are coasting.
Pick: New York Rangers -1.5 (-130) | Play up to (-140)
