Rangers and Canadiens Set to Clash: Projected Lineups and Game Preview

The New York Rangers are on the road to face the Montreal Canadiens tonight, October 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast on TVAS, CITY, SNE, and MSG. Here's a look at the projected lineups and what to expect from this matchup.

Team Records and Recent Performance

The Rangers enter the game with a 2-3-1 record, while the Canadiens boast a 4-1-0 record. New York is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal is riding a four-game winning streak, including a 3-2 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators.

Projected Lineups

Here are the projected lineups for both teams:

New York Rangers

• Forwards:
  • Conor Sheary - J.T. Miller - Alexis Lafreniere
  • Artemi Panarin - Mika Zibanejad - Will Cuylle
  • Juuso Parssinen - Noah Laba - Taylor Raddysh
  • Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
• Defense:
  • Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
  • Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen
  • Urho Vaakanainen - Braden Schneider
• Goaltenders:
  • Jonathan Quick (Likely starter)
  • Igor Shesterkin

Scratched: Scott Morrow, Jonny Brodzinski.

Injured: Vincent Trocheck (upper body), Carson Soucy (upper body).

Montreal Canadiens

• Forwards:
  • Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky
  • Oliver Kapanen - Alex Newhook - Ivan Demidov
  • Josh Anderson - Jake Evans - Brendan Gallagher
  • Zach Bolduc - Joe Veleno - Owen Beck
• Defense:
  • Mike Matheson - Noah Dobson
  • Jayden Struble - Lane Hutson
  • Arber Xhekaj - Alexandre Carrier
• Goaltenders:
  • Sam Montembeault (Expected starter)
  • Jakub Dobes

Scratched: None.

Injured: Kaiden Guhle (lower body), Kirby Dach (lower body), Patrik Laine (lower body).

Injury Updates and Roster Moves

The Canadiens have been hit with several injuries. Kaiden Guhle is out for 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury, while Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine are day-to-day with lower-body injuries. As a result, the Canadiens recalled forward Owen Beck from the Laval Rocket on an emergency basis. Joe Veleno is set to make his Canadiens debut after being a healthy scratch in the previous five games.

For the Rangers, center Vincent Trocheck is questionable with an upper-body injury and has not played since October 9. Carson Soucy is also out with an upper-body injury.

Goaltending Matchup

Igor Shesterkin is expected to start for the Rangers, though Jonathan Quick could also get the nod. Shesterkin has a 2-2-1 record with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage this season. In his career against the Canadiens, he is 5-1 with a 1.99 GAA and a .931 SV%. Sam Montembeault is likely to start for Montreal. He is 2-1 with a 2.97 GAA and a .870 SV% this season.

Key Stats and Betting Odds

The Canadiens are averaging 3.8 goals per game, ranking sixth in the NHL. The Rangers have struggled offensively, averaging just 2.0 goals per game, which ranks 30th in the league. Montreal's power play is operating at 17.6%, while the Rangers' power play is at 14.3%.

Montreal is favored to win the game with a moneyline of -125, while the Rangers are the underdog at +105. The over/under is set at 5.5 goals.

Prediction

While the Rangers have a strong goaltender in Igor Shesterkin, their offensive struggles may continue against a Canadiens team that is off to a hot start. The Canadiens' offense, led by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, should be able to generate enough goals to secure a victory.