NHL Betting: Habs vs Rangers

The Eastern conference playoff race is heating up. With less than a month to determine which teams qualify for the postseason dance, each game becomes that much more important for teams on the bubble.

Montreal Canadiens @ New York Rangers
Tuesday March 16, 2010 – 7:00 ET
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
: New York -145

The Rangers currently rank ninth in the Eastern conference, just one point back of the eighth place Bruins, although they have played one more game. New York will try to string together a three-game winning streak against the visiting Canadiens, which have won five straight games and six of seven to move in to a tie with the Philadelphia Flyers for the sixth spot in the conference. Only two weeks ago it was Montreal on the outside looking in. Now they’re just three points back of Ottawa for fifth spot in the east.

What The Canadiens Will Have To Do To Win:

The Canadiens have been on fire since the Olympic break, winning six of seven, the only loss coming in San Jose against the top ranked team in the Western conference. Even that loss was a game that they led in to the third period, and Montreal will need to continue to bring that work effort tonight when they face the Rangers. The top trip of Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, and Benoit Pouliot have finally put it all together, and their chemistry is reflected in they way they have played at both ends of the ice. They will need to be at their best again in what will be a playoff atmosphere, especially with leading scorer Mike Cammalleri still on the bench. Jaroslav Halak gets the call in goal again for the Canadiens, and will need to be better than his career mark of 4.11 goals against in losing four of five games played at Madison Square Garden.

What The Rangers Will Have To Do To Win:

The Rangers only win in three tries against the Canadiens came on home ice in mid-January, a 6-2 win. The key to this one will be the play of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who has dominated this opponent at home. The Swedish international is 6-1-0 with a 1.86 goals against average in his last seven games against Montreal at home. New York has put together consecutive wins over two teams in the thick of the playoff race, Philadelphia and Atlanta, and will be relying on secondary scoring from the likes of Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky to continue its push down the stretch.

Outlook and Pick:

The Canadiens have not won six in a row in the last four years, and will have a tough time accomplishing that feat tonight against a New York team finally seeming to put it all together in time for a late season run. Montreal has struggled at Madison Square Garden, making tonight a perfect candidate to end its winning streak.