Game Preview: Canadiens @ Rangers

CANADIENS (36-21-8) @ RANGERS (41-21-2)
The Canadiens go in search of their fifth straight victory on Saturday night when they pay the New York Rangers a visit at Madison Square Garden.

The contest in the Big Apple marks the start of an extended 10-day road trip, which will also include stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton over the next week-and-a-half.
The Canadiens are coming off a dramatic 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at the Bell Centre, in which Paul Byron scored the game-winning goal with just 8.3 seconds remaining in regulation time. Brendan Gallagher, meanwhile, tied things up at the 10:55 mark of the third period - snapping a 10-game goal drought in the process - with his seventh goal of the season. It was his first goal since returning from injury three weeks ago. Carey Price made 24 saves to register his 28th win.

Interestingly enough, it marked the Canadiens' first win in regulation time since January 31.
Back on February 21, the Canadiens edged Alain Vigneault's squad 3-2 in a shootout in Manhattan. Claude Julien's contingent has won five of their last six games.
Prior to Saturday night's game, the Canadiens confirmed that Steve Ott and Andreas Martinsen would be making their Habs debuts against the Rangers. Michael McCarron is a healthy scratch, while Alexander Radulov is out with a lower-body injury.
The Rangers, meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Bruins in Boston on Thursday night. Pavel Buchnevich and Oscar Lindberg both lit the lamp in the final frame, and Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves between the pipes.
Michael Grabner currently leads the Rangers with 26 goals on the season, while J.T. Miller sits atop the roster with 48 points through 64 games.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on CBC and TVA Sports, as well as on TSN Radio 690 and 98,5 fm.