1/15/11 Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens

867-5309.

Rangers against the Montreal Canadiens.

This is the third meeting between these two teams this season, both splitting a win. The Rangers are coming off of a decisive 3-0 win over the other Canadian Original-Six team in the Maple Leafs where Marty Biron stoned the Leafs shooters for his second shutout and ninth win of the season. The Rangers set the tempo early on with a plethora of hits going every which way on the Leafs to set up the tempo they wanted to play at. That shut down the Phil Kessel and Joffery Lupul line, and allowed the Rangers to skate to a win. Another key factor the Rangers got the win by was secondary scoring. Winter Classic hero Mike Rupp and Brian Boyle, two very infrequent scorers, chipped in last night for the first and second goal to lift the Rangers out of a scoring slump they've been in for the past few games. When the Rangers played the Senators and got shut out 3-0, they did not get either of those two things. They barely hit, and could not get anything going from their forwards. But after a few words for coach John Tortorella, they seem to have shook back into their groove.



The Habs are struggling, to say the very least. They are overflowing with injuries, including one to their captain Brian Gionta, who has three of the goals against the Rangers so far this season for the Habs. Its reported that backup goalie Peter Budaj will be in goal tonight for the Canadiens in order to give Carey Price a night off. This will also be the first game new recruit from Calgary Rene Bourque will play for the Canadiens.

The Diagnosis


The Rangers have had struggles against the Habs in Montreal as of recent, but the depleted Canadiens lineup leaves them vulnerable. If the Rangers can come out firing on all cylinders like they did against Toronto, they can win this game in Montreal.

The Prediction


Rangers win 3-1

Marian Gaborik will get the first Rangers goal early in the 1st.
Derek Stepan will get the second Rangers goal also in the 1st.
Tomas Plekanec will get the lone Canadiens goal in the 2nd.
And finally, Dan Girardi will get the empty netter to win the game 3-1.

Enjoy the game!