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Canadiens vs Rangers: Preview and Key Matchups for Saturday’s NHL Clash

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Montreal Canadiens Vs New York Rangers Hockey Game

The Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers are set to face off on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Madison Square Garden, marking the start of a five-game homestand for the Rangers. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on MSG, NHLN, TSN2, and RDS.

The Rangers, currently standing at 12-9-1, are looking to bounce back from a recent slump, having lost their last two games against the Hurricanes and Flyers. Despite this, they have a strong record in day games and in the second leg of back-to-back sets, winning each of their last seven home games in such scenarios.

The Canadiens, with a record of 8-11-3, are seeking to build on their recent overtime win against the Devils, where Nick Suzuki scored the winning goal just 44 seconds into overtime. However, they have struggled on the road, particularly on Saturdays, losing 20 of their last 21 Saturday road games.

In terms of lineup changes, the Canadiens’ Mike Matheson is expected to return to the lineup after missing two games due to a lower-body injury. He was paired with Lane Hutson during practice, indicating his readiness to play. Sam Montembeault will start in goal for the Canadiens, as announced by coach Martin St. Louis.

The Rangers will likely start Jonathan Quick in goal, following Igor Shesterkin‘s 32-save performance in their previous loss. The Rangers’ forward lines and defense pairs remain largely unchanged from their last game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Key players to watch include Artemi Panarin for the Rangers, who has been consistent with points in recent games, and Cole Caufield for the Canadiens, who has scored at least one goal in each of his last three games at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers boast strong defensive statistics, including a .915 save percentage, which is the third best in the NHL, and an 87.1% penalty kill percentage, ranking second in the league. They are also close to achieving their 1,700th home win in franchise history.