Rangers vs. Canadiens: Brendan Gallagher could set feisty tone in Game 2

As we expected, the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens will be fighting for goal scraps all series.

Carey Price lost Game 1 on Wednesday only because Henrik Lundqvist pitched a one-goal shutout. There’s no reason that script can’t be flipped in Game 2 on Friday, but don’t expect scoring to rise much.

Both teams realize that scoring is hard to come by in this series. At times the pace of the game seemed slow, even tentative, as the Rangers and Habs measured each other and avoided risky plays. Price and Lundqvist had to make tough saves, sure, but they came in brief moments of chaos instead of sustained pressure. Will the two sides open the pace up a bit in Game 2? Hard to say.

Brendan Gallagher and Mats Zuccarello. The smallest forwards on the ice tangled with each other numerous times in Game 1. There’s no love lost. Gallagher’s antics aren’t surprising; he’s as skilled a pest as any in the league. We didn’t expect Zuccarello to engage, though. The pair set a testy tone early, and hopefully they can spark more offensive shenanigans in Game 2.

Second chances on the power play. Neither side looked that effective on the man advantage in Game 1, mostly because their chances were one shot in and back out. Traffic jams phase any goaltender, and creating shots that turn into extra chances could turn the tide of the game on special teams.

The Rangers are the best road team in the NHL with 27 wins in 40 games. We expect their power play to work more efficiently, which should hold off a more-improved Canadiens game. Rangers take Game 2.