Rangers can’t buy a goal and it’s starting to get frustrating. The good news is that the process is going well despite injuries, allowing only eight goals in regulation. The bad news is that they have scored once in three games and have only scored 11 goals in six games. That’s not good, and no matter how good the process is and how good the defense is, the goalies can only do so much. Montreal is also a tough challenge, with strong goaltending and a surprisingly deep lineup.
The Rangers have essentially shut down all three of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Auston Matthews in the last two games. Montreal doesn’t have much of a star, but they are well built and much better than many give them credit for. Sam Montembeault was the only goalie ahead of Igor Shesterkin in GSAx last season, so he’s the real deal too. This should be a solid matchup, assuming the Rangers can find the back of the net.
Rangers lines
Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-JT Miller-Conor Sheary
Juuso Parssinen-Noah Laba-Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe
Vlad Gavrikov-Adam Fox
Matthew Robertson-Will Borgen
Urho Veelanainen-Braden Schneider
PP1: Fox, Panarin, Lafreniere, Zibanejad, Miller
PPP2: Planning, Sheary, Cuilin, Panarin, Rempe
Jonathan Quick gets the start.
Habs lines
Cole Caufield-Nick Suzuki-Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook-Oliver Kapanen-Ivan Demidov
Bolduc Joe Owen Beck
Josh Anderson-Jake Evans-Brendan Gallagher
Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble-Lane Hutson
Arber Xhekaj-Alex carrier
Sam Montembeault gets the start.
Game time is 7:00 PM.
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