Canadiens vs. Rangers Game 2 Prediction

After the Rangers snuck a game past the Canadiens in Montreal, the home team will look to even the score in Game 2.

Shocking many in their Game 1 win in Montreal on Wednesday, the New York Rangers proved to doubters that they can make a serious run in this series against the Canadiens.

To be expected, Henrik Lundqvist showed why he’s called the King, even at 35 years old. However, the Rangers goaltender has yet to win himself a Stanley Cup, no matter how close New York has gotten in his career.

Both teams rely heavily on their defense and goaltending, with Lundqvist battling Montreal’s Carey Price in net, and star defensemen like Ryan McDonough and Shea Weber each anchoring their team’s defenses. Neither team could score heavily in the regular season, which is why it was so important for the Rangers to get out to the 2-0 lead they did so quickly in Game 1.

Lundqvist’s 31 saves were equally important in the bargain, but Tanner Glass’s goal in the first and Michael Grabner’s bookend goal in the third were key to a successful start for New York. Obviously, you can’t win if you can’t score, and this whole series could be a string of 1-0 games, and not a single person would be surprised. This series, and especially Game 2, will come down to who’s performing to their true potential in net.

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Pick: Canadiens 2, Rangers 1

I don’t see any game in this series surpassing three goals total between the two teams, and I think we will see an amazing defensive battle in Game 2.

Montreal will come out firing with their home crowd behind them, and will need some more production from Max Pacioretty to spark his team on the offensive end. I don’t see the Canadiens losing both games at home to open this series after such a strong regular season, and think they head back to New York tied at a game a piece.