{"id":536637,"date":"2026-04-02T14:05:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/536637\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:05:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:05:14","slug":"canadiens-vs-rangers-prediction-picks-odds-for-tonights-nhl-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/536637\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadiens vs Rangers Prediction, Picks &#038; Odds for Tonight\u2019s NHL Game"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                           <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d948127f-5928-48a9-b232-f8dc106910b7.jpeg\" alt=\"Luc LeBlanc - Betting Editor at Covers.com\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"covers-mini-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/img.covers.com\/covers\/icons\/global-icons\/covers-c-new.svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/writers\/luc-leblanc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luc LeBlanc<\/a><br \/>\n                             \u2022 Content Editor<\/p>\n<p>                    3+ years betting experience<\/p>\n<p>\n            Updated:<br \/>\nApr 2, 2026 , 09:46 AM ET<\/p>\n<p>                \u2022 3 min read<\/p>\n<p class=\"covers-Articlemodern-cutLine\">Cole Caufield will kick the Rangers while they&#8217;re down tonight, as our NHL betting picks explain.<\/p>\n<p>                    EXPERT PICK &#8211; PROP<\/p>\n<p>                            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"20\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.imagn.com\/image\/thumb\/120-120nw\/27259398.png\" alt=\"Cole Caufield o0.5  Goals Scored (+130)\" onerror=\"this.src=\" https:=\"\" data-fallback=\"0\" loading=\"lazy\" async=\"on\"\/><br \/>\n                        Cole Caufield o0.5  Goals Scored (+130)<\/p>\n<p>            <a href=\"#Best_Bet\" class=\"covers-Matchup-button\" data-linkcont=\"Articles - Picks Card - More Picks - Read Analysis\">Read Analysis<\/a><\/p>\n<p>                <img src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a3761750-3cbe-4fe0-975f-ec67247ee1dd.jpg\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" alt=\"Cole Caufield NHL Montreal Canadiens\" fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"sync\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Photo By &#8211; Reuters Connect. Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens.<\/p>\n<p>Tonight&#8217;s matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers will tell the tale of two extremes in a busy Eastern Conference. The Canadiens are scorching hot, winners of six straight, while the Rangers are the only team in the East eliminated from playoff contention.<\/p>\n<p>My Canadiens vs. Rangers predictions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/picks\/nhl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL picks<\/a> lean into this sobering reality for the Rangers, as Cole Caufield &amp; Co. will look to gain some ground with the Atlantic Division crown very much in sight on Thursday, April 2.<\/p>\n<p>Canadiens vs Rangers prediction<br \/>\nCanadiens vs Rangers best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goal (+130)<\/p>\n<p>Death, taxes, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/sport\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/229425\/cole-caufield\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cole Caufield<\/a> finding the back of the net.<\/p>\n<p>The diminutive winger has scored more than anyone in 2026, notching an astounding 26 goals in his last 26 games. He&#8217;s scored in three straight and has seven in his last six.<\/p>\n<p>Tonight, he faces a lowly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/sport\/hockey\/nhl\/teams\/main\/new-york-rangers\/odds\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Rangers<\/a> squad that ranks near the bottom in effectively all defensive metrics.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s just three goals shy of the illustrious half-century mark \u2014 a feat that has eluded all\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/sport\/hockey\/nhl\/teams\/main\/montreal-canadiens\/odds\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Montreal Canadiens<\/a> players for over 35 years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=covers.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"googleLink border-0 bg-lighter rounded-2 py-2 px-3 d-flex gap-2 justify-content-between align-items-center mb-5\" data-linkcont=\"Article-Google-Preferences-Click\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775138714_128_google-preferred-source-badge.png\" width=\"102\" height=\"36\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Canadiens vs Rangers same-game parlay<\/p>\n<p>On the topic of red-hot Habs players, look no further than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/sport\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/249395\/juraj-slafkovsky\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Juraj Slafkovsky<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The 2022 No. 1 pick has been playing at a 40-goal, 92-point pace for exactly half of the season, and has served as the perfect complement to Caufield and Nick Suzuki on the team&#8217;s top line.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s racked up 13 assists in 17 games since his show-stopping Olympic performance, and has nine in his last 10. Yet, somehow, a Slaf assist is set at plus-odds.<\/p>\n<p>Overshadowed amidst the influx of career seasons in Montreal is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/sport\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/1710\/mike-matheson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mike Matheson<\/a>. His 24:17 average ice time per game leads the team (18th in the NHL), and he&#8217;s on pace for the second-best offensive totals of his career.<\/p>\n<p>The Quebec native has blocked two or more shots in six of his last seven games.<\/p>\n<p>Canadiens vs Rangers SGP<\/p>\n<p>Cole Caufield anytime goal<br \/>\nJuraj Slafkovsky Over 0.5 assists<br \/>\nMike Matheson Over 1.5 blocked shots<\/p>\n<p>Canadiens vs Rangers odds<\/p>\n<p>Moneyline: Canadiens -150 | Rangers +130<br \/>\nPuck Line: Canadiens -1.5 (+160) | Rangers +1.5 (-190)<br \/>\nOver\/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)<\/p>\n<p>Canadiens vs Rangers trend<\/p>\n<p>The Over has hit in nine consecutive meetings between these teams. Find more\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.covers.com\/sport\/hockey\/nhl\/matchup\/361689\/picks#trends\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL betting trends<\/a> for Canadiens vs. Rangers.<\/p>\n<p>How to watch Canadiens vs Rangers<\/p>\n<p>Location<br \/>\nMadison Square Garden, New York, NY<\/p>\n<p>Date<br \/>\nThursday, April 2, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Puck drop<br \/>\n7:00 p.m. ET<\/p>\n<p>TV<br \/>\nTSN2<\/p>\n<p>Canadiens vs Rangers latest injuries<\/p>\n<p> Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.<br \/>Not intended for use in MA.<br \/>Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.<\/p>\n<p>        Pages related to this topic<\/p>\n<p>                        <img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Luc LeBlanc\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775138714_484_d948127f-5928-48a9-b232-f8dc106910b7.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"315\" data-end=\"616\">Luc has been passionate about sports since he was a child, playing competitive hockey and staying closely tuned to professional leagues. Today, he brings that same energy to his work as a Content Editor, covering NHL games, player props, and betting trends with a sharp, analytical eye.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"878\">Since 2023, Luc has been writing picks and analysis for various publications, helping readers discover value in several major sports. While hockey is his specialty, he also closely follows tennis, keeping up with both the ATP and WTA Tours.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"880\" data-end=\"1205\">A graduate of Saint Mary\u2019s University (BSc, Geography, 2025), Luc approaches sports betting the way he approaches maps and statistics by looking for patterns, trends, and angles that give him an edge. He focuses on research-backed and well-informed picks, spotting correlations, and finding the best opportunities in player props and game markets.<\/p>\n<p>Read More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Luc LeBlanc \u2022 Content Editor 3+ years betting experience Updated: Apr 2, 2026 , 09:46 AM ET \u2022&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":536638,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5103],"tags":[265,5,264,21,5147,4],"class_list":{"0":"post-536637","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-montreal-canadiens","8":"tag-canadiens","9":"tag-hockey","10":"tag-montreal","11":"tag-montreal-canadiens","12":"tag-montrealcanadiens","13":"tag-nhl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/536638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=536637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=536637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}