Canadiens vs. Rangers prediction: Montreal favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [4/2/2026]

The NY Rangers and Montreal Canadiens will meet in the NHL at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, starting at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced NHL model gives the Canadiens a slight edge with a 53% win probability over the Rangers.

This article offers further insights into Thursday's Canadiens vs. Rangers matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Habs vs. Rangers prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL game between the Canadiens and Rangers, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model currently gives the Canadiens a 53% chance of beating the Rangers.

According to our model, the Rangers (+1.5) have a 68% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 53% chance of staying under.

Canadiens vs. Rangers odds

We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Canadiens	Rangers
Puck Line	-1.5 (+198)	+1.5 (-225)
Moneyline	-125	+105
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 current 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
Puck Line	Rangers +1.5	-225
Moneyline	Rangers	+105
Total	Under 6.5	-110

According to our best NHL 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 40.2% chance of scoring a goal at Madison Square Garden, while the star is an 8.1% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Montreal Canadiens

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	40.2%
Nick Suzuki	30.3%
Ivan Demidov	26.4%
Alex Newhook	25.2%
Juraj Slafkovsky	24.7%

NY Rangers

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Alexis Lafreniere	29.6%
Mika Zibanejad	29.3%
J.T. Miller	26.2%
Vincent Trocheck	22.5%
Conor Sheary	21.0%

First goal scorer predictions

Montreal Canadiens

Player	First Goal Probability
Cole Caufield	8.1%
Nick Suzuki	6.0%
Ivan Demidov	4.6%
Juraj Slafkovsky	4.5%
Oliver Kapanen	4.4%

NY Rangers

Player	First Goal Probability
Alexis Lafreniere	6.1%
J.T. Miller	5.3%
Mika Zibanejad	5.0%
Vincent Trocheck	3.9%
Conor Sheary	3.9%

Habs vs. Rangers game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's action between the Rangers and Canadiens at Madison Square Garden is scheduled to commence 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 53% 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 drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice, head to our responsible gambling hub.

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