Rangers at Canadiens
THE STORY: The New York Rangers are riding a season-best seven-game winning streak thanks to some strong work in goal from Henrik Lundqvist and a surging offense. The Rangers are second in the league in goals against thanks in large part to Lundqvist, who has allowed less than two goals per game in winning his last five starts. New York has also benefited from Brad Richards hitting his stride. The Rangers’ big offseason acquisition, Richards has three points in the last two games and has tallied in three of the last five. Trying to stop the New York express train on Saturday will be the host Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens lost some of their momentum in a 4-3 loss at the New York Islanders on Thursday. Montreal had won three of its previous four but dropped back into last place in the Northeast Division with its latest setback.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, RDS, NHL Network
ABOUT THE RANGERS (10-3-3): New York has not won eight straight games since Dec. 27, 1974-Jan. 11, 1975. After scoring three goals or more only three times in their first nine games, the Rangers have averaged 3.9 goals during their winning streak. Richards tallied the game-winner with less than five minutes left in Tuesday’s 4-2 win at the Islanders and Ryan Callahan added an empty-net goal and an assist. Callahan has multiple points in each of the last two games.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (8-8-3): Montreal spent three weeks recovering from a 1-5-2 start and finally managed to pull over .500 with a 4-0 win over Carolina on Wednesday. Either the excitement or the exhaustion must have gotten to the Canadiens, who dropped back to even the next night. Peter Budaj allowed all four goals on nine shots in the second period. Carey Price should be back in net on Saturday.
OVERTIME:
1. Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, who has been out with a concussion since last season, has been cleared for light activity.
2. Lundqvist allowed three goals but still got the win in a 5-3 triumph over Montreal on Nov. 5.
3. Montreal center Tomas Plekanec recorded three assists in that Nov. 5 meeting and has 19 points in 24 career games against New York.