Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers Prediction, NHL Odds

Edgar Chaput | Updated Nov 29, 2024

NHL: New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens

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The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers have a rare afternoon date when they meet on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Montreal
24-20-2-2
AT
November 30, 2024, 1:00 PM ET
Madison Square Garden
NY Rangers
24-20-4
Puckline +1.5 -160
Moneyline +155
Over / Under o +6
Matchup Odds
Puckline -1.5 +135
Moneyline -185
Over / Under u +6
Matchup Odds

The Montreal Canadiens are experiencing yet another season of growing pains, just as they did last year. At the very least, they got American Thanksgiving off after earing two points over the Columbus Blue Jackets courtesy of a 4-3 overtime win on Wednesday. Their opponents, the New York Rangers, not only lost on the eve of the U.S. holiday (4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes), but on Black Friday as well, 3-1 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Our NHL odds still believe in the Rangers, as they’re perched as -227 favourites on the moneyline.

Canadiens vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds

New York has gotten the better of Montreal in recent meetings. The Big Apple representatives have strung together three consecutive wins over the Habs, including a merciless 7-2 beatdown this past October at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens have lost their past two visits to Manhattan.

Perhaps things are not as bad as they appear given that Montreal is 11-11-0 versus the spread. Not that that’s an amazing accomplishment, but for all the negativity surrounding the club, betters can rest assured they have a shot by believing in them ATS. Note that blue liner Mike Matheson is presently listed as day-to-day. The Habs are still hampered by one of the worst goals against averages in the league at 3.73 (31st).

Incidentally, the Rangers are having a rougher go at things ATS than their Canadian counterparts. But their 9-13-0 record in that category is the least of their worries. The club has fallen in five straight games overall. They only scored more than two goals once during that span. As of Friday evening, Chris Kreider is still listed as Out (upper body).

Montreal Canadiens

One of the problems that has plagued Martin St. Louis’s ensemble during the present campaign is a lack of consistency. They can string together a couple of wins, but it rarely lasts longer than that.

Whether Wednesday’s victory in Columbus is the start of a bright chapter in 2024-25 remains to be seen, starting Saturday afternoon in Manhattan. Whatever the case, the Canadiens won for the first time all season after conceding the first goal. Down 1-0 in the first period, the visitors responded through Juraj Slafkovsky (second), who has been snake-bitten this season. Even a 2-1 deficit in the second period didn’t deter them. Slafkovsky played facilitator by bouncing a beautiful pass off the boards that set Cole Caufield off on a breakaway for his 13th of the season. Emil Heineman (fifth) showed grist and individual skill in netting his side’s 3-2 goal, but they would require the extra session to earn the spoils.

That came via their talisman, Nick Suzuki (eighth), whose wrist shot was saved but he pounced on the rebound and patted the biscuit into the basket.

New York Rangers

The Rangers have an accomplished, intelligent coach (Peter Laviolette) and a ton of talent on the roster. That said, things are not well in the Big Apple.

Losers of four straight, New York headed into Philadelphia for a Black Friday matinee. If one had to guess which team’s roster was nursing a massive turkey hangover, it was the Rangers. They were lethargic for the better part of 30 minutes, allowing the host Flyers to completely dominate the match. That only Bobby Brink and Travis Konecny scored was thanks to Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers goalie was pestered all afternoon and stood tall, conceding nothing after those first period goals.

Vincent Trochek eventually halved the deficit midway through the second period. The performance was better after that, but the 3-1 defeat (Philly scored an empty netter) was deserved.

Artemi Panarin is now pointless in three games. With a lot going on within the organization these days (such as management reportedly mulling over potential trades), the Rangers have a storm to weather.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canadiens vs. Rangers?

NHL Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • MON
  • +155 -185
  • NYR
Matchup NHL Odds