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Canadiens vs. Rangers prediction: Montreal favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [4/2/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Montreal Canadiens vs NY Rangers predictions for NHL Thursday.
The NY Rangers and Montreal Canadiens are scheduled to meet in the NHL at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, with puck drop at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model gives the Canadiens a slight edge with a 54% win probability over the Rangers.
This article offers a closer look at Thursday's Canadiens vs. Rangers matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Habs vs. Rangers prediction: Who will win?
Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL game between the Canadiens and Rangers, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Canadiens a 54% chance of defeating the Rangers.
According to our model, the 6.5-goal over/under has a 53% chance of staying under.
Canadiens vs. Rangers odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Canadiens | Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -142 | +120 |
| Total | o6.5 (-105) | u6.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Canadiens vs. Rangers picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Rangers | +120 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | -110 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Canadiens vs. Rangers player props
Who will score a goal in Canadiens vs. Rangers?
According to our model, Cole Caufield is most likely to score an anytime goal in Canadiens vs. Rangers.
Our projections give Caufield a 38.9% chance of scoring a goal at Madison Square Garden, while the star is a 7.5% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 38.9% |
| Nick Suzuki | 30.8% |
| Ivan Demidov | 27.2% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 26.2% |
| Alex Newhook | 24.8% |
NY Rangers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Mika Zibanejad | 29.8% |
| Alexis Lafreniere | 28.3% |
| J.T. Miller | 25.5% |
| Vincent Trocheck | 23.8% |
| Conor Sheary | 19.6% |
First goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 7.5% |
| Nick Suzuki | 5.9% |
| Ivan Demidov | 5.3% |
| Alex Newhook | 4.8% |
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 4.7% |
NY Rangers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Mika Zibanejad | 5.5% |
| Alexis Lafreniere | 5.0% |
| J.T. Miller | 4.5% |
| Vincent Trocheck | 4.0% |
| Gabe Perreault | 3.3% |
Habs vs. Rangers game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's game between the Rangers and Canadiens at Madison Square Garden is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Montreal Canadiens vs. NY Rangers
- Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Madison Square Garden
Conclusion
We predict the Canadiens, with a 54% win probability, will likely beat the Rangers on Thursday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Canadiens vs. Rangers insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice, head to our responsible gambling hub.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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