Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference First Round Game Three – April 16, 2017
The Montreal Canadiens head to The Garden with a tied series (1-1) on their hands thanks to Friday night’s dramatic 4-3 overtime win in Game 2.
Tomas Plekanec’s game-tying goal with 18 seconds left in the third period, and Alexander Radulov’s goal in the extra session ultimately guaranteed the victory for the Habs, who hope to build on that inspiring performance.
They finished with a 23-14-4 road record in the regular season, including two wins over the Rangers. That should give Montreal even more confidence for tonight’s contest.
Goalie Carey Price has been solid in the first two meetings of this playoff series, saving 64 of 68 shots. He is 14-9-2 with a 2.44 GAA and .915 save percentage during 25 starts on the road this season.
Game 2 was a tough pill to swallow, but now the New York Rangers need a quick rebound at their home rink later this evening. They went 20-16-4 at The Garden during the regular season.
However, the Blueshirts have lost four-straight at home to Montreal dating back to last season. They need to repeat their success in Game 1, during which the Rangers defense responded to every push from the Habs’ offense.
Before yielding four goals in Game 2, Henrik Lundqvist was remarkable in the opener, making 31 saves to carry his side to the eventual 2-0 win. He was aided by one score each from Tanner Glass and Michael Grabner, who also added another goal despite the loss in the second game.
