New York @ Montreal preview
Bell Centre
Last Meeting ( Apr 7, 2024 ) Montreal 2, NY Rangers 5
Strong play on the road has fueled the New York Rangers' hot start to the season.
Vying to open with four straight road wins for the first time in more than 90 years, the Rangers try to hand the struggling Montreal Canadiens a fourth consecutive loss Tuesday night.
New York is 4-0-1 -- its best start since going 5-0-0 in 2008-09 -- and remains the only Eastern Conference team without a regulation defeat. Moreso, the Rangers are 3-0-0 on the road for the first time since winning their first four away from home in 1931-32.
"The confidence in each other and the guys in the lineup -- it's big," veteran Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad told the New York Post. "I think we're working hard.
"We trust that we have a good team in here, and I think everyone is ready to work every game."
Following Saturday's 4-1 victory at Toronto, New York has outscored its three road opponents 15-3.
"Every game we're taking steps in the right direction," said Rangers forward Reilly Smith, who recorded two of his three assists on the young season Saturday. "Next game is another challenge, but we'll try to get better every game."
The Rangers are 3-0-1 versus Montreal since a 2-1 regulation loss at home in January 2023. New York's Artemi Panarin, who has recorded four of his six goals this season in the last two contests, has scored three times and added 15 assists during a nine-game point streak against the Canadiens.
Zibanejad has five points in five games so far, and three goals with three assists in his last two versus Montreal.
The Canadiens have allowed one goal in their two wins this season and 20 in their four defeats. Following Saturday's 4-3 home shootout loss to the New York Islanders, Montreal has been outscored 14-7 during its current 0-2-1 rut.
Despite the Canadiens' current defensive issues, budding superstar Cole Caufield ranks among the league leaders with six goals in six games. He delivered his second two-goal performance of the young season Saturday, and he has four with two assists in his last four games versus New York.
"I'm just keeping my head level right now," Caufield told NHL.com. "Obviously, our team game needs to improve, and we all know we expect more from ourselves, but I liked what we brought (Saturday). There are some things we can work on."
Like their 5-on-5 game, where the Canadiens have allowed all but four of the team's 20 non-shootout goals. Montreal opponents are just 2-for-22 on the power play.
Montreal's Sam Montembeault allowed one total goal in winning his first two starts of the season, but he's yielded eight while dropping two since then. Teammate Cayden Primeau has given up nine goals on 65 shots faced in his two 2024-25 starts.
Conversely, New York's Igor Shesterkin has stopped 116 of the 124 shots faced while going 3-0-1 with a shutout this season. Rangers backup Jonathan Quick made 29 saves in a 5-2 victory at Detroit last Thursday.
Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky will be sidelined at least one week with an upper-body injury, the team announced Tuesday.
--Field Level Media