New York Rangers host the Montreal Canadiens for an Original Six clash from the Garden

In the NHL, there are very few teams will illustrious histories. The New York Rangers are one of the few. During the almost 100 years of existence for the Blueshirts, the team has won the Stanley Cup four times and created one of the richest histories of the teams in the NHL. We can talk about the goal-a-game line, the early rivalry with the Americans, or the Mark Messier promise in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994.

However, the opponents tonight have a rich tapestry of their own history. 24 Stanley Cup Banners hang from the rafters in Montreal. They have had some of the best players to ever skate play in the French speaking part of Canada, multiple extended dynasties, and remain the most recent Canadian team to capture the Stanley Cup back in 1993. They're rebuilding now and don't have the same shine they used to, but the past is incredible.

Jonathan Quick is expected to get the start tonight as Igor Shesterkin gets a well-earned break after his goalie duel with Jacob Markstrom. Alex Belzile was recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack, but is not expected to play against his former team as Adam Edstrom gets another look on the fourth line with Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow. New York's desire to look at its depth before the deadline is smart, but I do wish we'd see them in more game situations, especially against rebuilding teams.

Projected Lineups

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky
Tanner Pearson - Jake Evans - Brendan Gallagher
Joshua Roy - Alex Newhook - Josh Anderson
Michael Pezzetta - Brandon Gignac - Joel Armia
Michael Matheson - Kaiden Guhle
Jayden Struble - David Savard
Arber Xhekaj - Johnathan Kovvacevic
Sam Montembeault
Jake Allen

New York Rangers

Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Blake Wheeler
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - Jonny Brodzinski - Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey - Barclay Goodrow - Adam Edstrom
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller - Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson - Braden Schneider
Jonathan Quick
Igor Shesterkin

Puck Drop

This is a 7 p.m puck drop from Madison Square Garden as two of the original six will clash. Both teams will be looking to try and get into the win column tonight, and the Rangers will look to extend their five game winning streak coming out of the all-star break while extending their lead at the top of the Metropolitan Division as the chasing Carolina Hurricanes falter again.