Montreal Canadiens Host the Best in the East | PREVIEW: NYR @ MTL

The Montreal Canadiens will meet the New York Rangers for the first time this season at the Bell Centre.

Excerpt from 'Habs Hockey Report' of host Amy Johnson commenting on the percentage of games played which now involve comeback victories.

GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens (16-17-5) vs New York Rangers (26-10-1)

Game Preview

Roster News

Christian Dvorak had surgery on Friday. He will miss the rest of the season.

Sam Montembeault (8-5-3 / 2.94 GAA / .903 SV%) is the confirmed starter for Montreal.

Last Game

The Canadiens mismanaged the puck throughout the game according to their captain.

Last game: MTL 1 vs BUF 6 | F

Players to Watch

Emil Heineman - Heineman will be in the lineup against the New York Rangers and will play his first game at the Bell Centre.

Matchup for Game 39, Home Game 20

Bell Centre, Montreal, QC. | January 6, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SNE, CITY, TVAS, MSG2, NHLN

Pre-Game

Brendan Gallagher

"I would like to contribute offensively, but when you don't, you have to make sure you do the other things well on the ice and not be selfish, not deviate from the game plan."

Marty St. Louis

"You have to be disciplined, that’s a big part of it. They have offensive players who can make you pay if you make turnovers."

Projected Canadiens Lineup (subject to change)

Forwards
22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
11 Brendan Gallagher - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson
51 Emil Heineman - 91 Sean Monahan - 56 Jesse Ylonen
55 Michael Pezzetta - 13 Mitchell Stephens - 40 Joel Armia

Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 58 David Savard
21 Kaiden Guhle - 52 Justin Barron
47 Jayden Struble - 54 Jordan Harris

Goaltenders
Starter: 35 Sam Montembeault (8-5-3 / 2.94 GAA / .903 SV%)
Alternate: 34 Jake Allen

Out of the lineup
Scratches: Gustav Lindstrom, Cayden Primeau, Johnathan Kovacevic
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body), Alex Newhook (lower body), Tanner Pearson (upper body), Christian Dvorak (upper body)

Visiting Bench

New York has won five of their last seven games against Montreal.

The Rangers have won seven of their last 10 contests.

Jonathan Quick (9-2-1 / 2.41 GAA / .916 SV%) is the confirmed starter for the Rangers.

Game Expectations

The Canadiens will have their hands full with the New York Rangers, who are currently the second best team in the NHL.

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