The New York Rangers are getting set to start a grueling set of games over the next two weeks. It all begins by hosting the Montreal Canadiens, and this could be a very important game in this gauntlet ahead of them.
Here are three players that are in the spotlight for this game.
Artemi Panarin
The last time the Rangers and Canadiens met up, up at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Artemi Panarin notched a four-point night. He had a hand in all four points of the Rangers' 4-3 victory, and it was certainly a career night for him.
He is undoubtedly the number one Rangers player to watch for, as the hope is that this team can break this three-game losing streak. If anyone can do it, it is "The Breadman".
Alexis Lafreniere
It is always fun watching Alexis Lafreniere play against his hometown team. He has four goals and two assists for six points in 13 career games against the Canadiens, but this season has seen a bit of a revolution in his game. With seven goals and 10 assists on the year, he may finally be on the rise to being the player that the Blueshirts faithful have hoped for.
Lafreniere still has not gotten himself out of that "Bust" territory as the first overall selection of the 2020 NHL Draft, but he is making strides. He is playing with some of the best forwards in the game in Artemi Panarin and Mika Zianejad, and the trio has shown itself to be one of the most solid top-units in a long time.
Vladislav Gavrikov
The Canadiens have a superb offensive unit, with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Zack Bolduc, and Ivan Demidov. Not to mention the rising stars in Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson on the blueline. It is imperative that Vladislav Gavrikov of the Rangers be a brick wall on the Rangers' end against that impressive firepower.
With Adam Fox still a little ways away from being back in game shape, but is getting closer, Gavrikov is still the go-to guy. He has done a great job in Fox's absence, but this might be his toughest test yet.