Canadiens Preview: Fowler Starts, Injured Skaters Not Ready
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Montreal Canadiens (43-21-10) will face the New York Rangers (31-35-9) on Thursday night, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET. This will be the third and final time these teams meet, with the Rangers having won both previous matchups. They were relatively close games, seeing New York emerge with a 4-3 win in October, and a 5-4 win in December.
Much has changed since then. The Canadiens are close to qualifying for the playoffs, whereas the Rangers were just the second team to be officially eliminated from the playoff race. As for Thursday’s meeting, we can expect another high-scoring affair from the Habs.
With 3. 31 goals per game (all situations), the Canadiens rank third in the NHL in G/PG, whereas the Rangers are a bottom-12 team in goals allowed (3. 09).
That being said, the Canadiens also allow roughly the same amount of goals per game, a good reminder that the team needs to shore up its defensive play before the playoffs begin. Goals are fun, and comebacks are entertaining, but a seven-game series is a completely different animal. Defensive miscues are immediately exploited.
Lineup Changes Rookie netminder Jacob Fowler will face the Rangers, looking to earn his third win in a row. It should also be noted that both Fowler and Jakub Dobes now have save percentages above . 900 , a complete reversal in goaltending fortunes in Montreal.