RANGERS VS CANADIENS GAME DAY PREVIEW 11/6

RANGERS LOOK FOR FOURTH WIN IN A ROW, HOSTING HABS AT MSG

New York Rangers (6-7-1) vs Montreal Canadiens (7-4-2)

Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV: MSG, TSN2 RADIO: ESPN-NY 98.7 FM

The Rangers and Canadiens face off for the first of a three game season series tonight at Madison Square Garden. Last season Montreal won the series 2 games to 1 winning both games in Montreal 5-4 and 3-1. The Rangers won the first contest of the season at MSG in a 2-0 shutout win for Henrik Lundqvist who stopped 34 shots in the game, Brady Skjei and Mika Zibanejad tallied the goals for New York.

The Rangers come in holding a 3 game win streak, looking to up their season high with 4. The Rangers are riding shootout victories in San Jose and Anaheim and most recently on Sunday with a regulation win at home against the Buffalo Sabres 3-1.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 39 shots in the game and has started 5 of the Rangers past 6 games. Mika Zibanejad leads New York with 11 points, Chris Kreider leads in goals with 6 and Mats Zuccarello leads in assists with 7 on the season.

Montreal is playing in the second of back to back games. Monday Night after falling behind 3-1 in the first period to the hosting NY Islanders, the Habs came from behind to win in the shootout 4-3. Montreal is 3-2 in their last five games with wins over the Islanders, Bruins and Capitals. Max Domi leads Montreal in points with 13, Brendan Gallagher leads in goals with 9 and Jeff Petry leads in assists with 9.

Rangers Practice Lines & Pairs from Monday:
Forwards:
Namestnikov-Zibanejad-Zuccarello
Kreider-Hayes-Buchnevich
Vesey-Spooner-Fast
McLeod-Chytil & Nieves (rotating)-Lettieri

Defense:
Staal-Pionk & Claesson (Rotating)
Skjei-DeAngelo
Smith-Shattenkirk

Brett Howden was not at practice today after leaving the game on Sunday vs Buffalo with an "Upper Body" Injury. Howden said he is feeling well but the Rangers will take precaution and have him listed as day to day.

With Howden possibly being out for tonight's game vs Montreal, Filip Chytil may be moved up in the lineup to take his place at center.

Ryan Spooner who missed Sunday's game with an "Upper Body" Injury is questionable for tonight's contest although he practiced yesterday on the third line alongside Jimmy Vesey and Jesper Fast.

Although Claesson (upper body) and Nieves (concussion protocol) rotated in, neither are ready to return to the lineup.

Defenseman Adam McQuaid was placed on the Injured Reserve to make room for recall of Center Lias Andersson from Hartford of the AHL.

RANGERS ALL-TIME RECORD
Overall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195-332-94-5 (489 pts)
Home Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129-127-54-2 (314 pts)
Road Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-205-40-3 (175 pts)
Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,616
Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,103

Shutouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, last – 10/8/2017 (2-0; Lundqvist)
Last Ranger Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/8/2017 (2-0)
Last Ranger Win at Montreal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/26/2016 (5-2)
Last Canadien Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2017 (4-1)
Last Canadien Win at Montreal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/22/2018 (3-1)