| MATCHUP | Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 43-21-10 | 31-35-9 |
| Spread | -1.5 164 | +1.5 -198 |
| Moneyline | -148 | +124 |
| Total | Over 6.5 (100) | Under 6.5 (-120) |
| Where | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY | |
| When | Thursday, April 2, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers meet Thursday in NHL action at Madison Square Garden. Here’s a Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers Prediction. This article will include a Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers Pick.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Lightning and the Hurricanes and play the Devils next. The Canadiens have won 10 of their last 13 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.51 goals per game and are scoring on 24.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 47 goals, Nick Suzuki has 65 assists and Juraj Slafkovsky has 159 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.09 goals per game and are killing 77 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 101 goals on 1,040 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 81 goals on 635 shots.
New York Rangers Betting Preview
The New York Rangers beat the Devils and Panthers and play the Red Wings next. The Rangers have won 3 straight games.
The New York Rangers are averaging 2.83 goals per game and are scoring 24.5 percent of their power play opportunities. Mika Zibanejad leads New York with 33 goals, Artemi Panarin has 38 assists, and Alexis Lafreniere has 151 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Rangers are allowing 3.09 goals per game and are killing 78.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Igor Shesterkin has allowed 117 goals on 1,335 shots faced, while Jonathan Quick has given up 69 goals on 622 shots.
Why the New York Rangers will win
- The Canadiens have lost five of their last six games as road favorites.
- The Rangers have won each of their last three games as underdogs following a win.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as road favorites following a road win.
- The Rangers have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs following a home win.
- The Canadiens have lost the second period in each of their last four road games against Metropolitan Division opponents when tied after the first period.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Canadiens have won nine of their last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Rangers have lost seven of their last eight night games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in 18 of their last 20 road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Rangers have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Rangers have lost the second period in each of their last four games as home underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the last eight night games between the Canadiens and Rangers has gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Canadiens’ last five road games has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in 21 of the Canadiens’ last 22 games as favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the last five games between the Canadiens and Rangers.
New York Rangers Player Prop Facts
- Conor Sheary has scored a goal in each of the Rangers’ last four games against Eastern Conference opponents at Madison Square Garden.
- Adam Fox has recorded at least one assist in seven of his last eight appearances against the Canadiens.
- Vladislav Gavrikov has recorded at least four shots in each of his last zero appearances—the [longest/equal-longest] active streak in the league.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in five of the Canadiens’ last six games.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Canadiens’ last eight road games.
- Patrik Laine has scored the last goal in three of his last four appearances with his team as a road favorite against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Josh Anderson has recorded at least four shots in each of his last zero appearances—the [longest/equal-longest] active streak in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The New York Rangers rank 30th in the league for shots per game this season (25.3).
- The New York Rangers rank T28th in the league in short-handed goals allowed this season (9).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 25th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (76.96%).
- The Montreal Canadiens are one of only two teams with two or more players to record at least 60 assists this season (Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson).
Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers Prediction
The Rangers are having a good week and they’ve won 6 of the last 7 games against the Habs. You can talk yourself into the plus money. However, we’ve faded the Rangers a lot this season at home and it’s paid off. also, the Canadiens haven’t lost a game since March 19 and are dialed in defensively as they close in on a playoff spot. The overall body of work makes the Habs easier to trust. The price is reasonable. I have to side with the Canadiens on the road.