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Rangers vs. Canadiens: 3 things you need to know

Adam Hunger / Reuters

The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers face off on Saturday night for the first time since last season's Eastern Conference Final.

The Rangers eliminated the Canadiens in six games before losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings.

Here are three things you need to know about Saturday's game:

History could be made

With a win on Saturday, the Canadiens would tie a franchise record for wins (seven) in their first eight games. It would be their best start since 1961-62, when they went 7-0-1.

Both the Canadiens (6-1-0) and Rangers (4-3-0) enter Saturday's game riding three-game win streaks. Montreal is undefeated in three home games this season, and New York has rebounded after starting the season 1-3-0.

Dormant power plays looking to wake up

Despite their solid starts, the Rangers and Canadiens possess two of the worst power-play units in the league. 

The Rangers rank 25th in the NHL in efficiency with the man advantage, having converted two of 20 opportunities, while the Canadiens sit 21st with three power-play goals in 21 chances. 

On the penalty kill, meanwhile, the Rangers rank in the bottom third of the league at 78.6 percent, while the Canadiens' penalty killers are the NHL's 16th-best unit at 82.1 percent.

Carey Price all but owns the Rangers

In 15 career games against the Rangers, Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is 8-5-1 with a 2.06 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and five shutouts.

Price has settled down in his last two games, stopping 59 of 62 total shots, after allowing eight combined goals in the two previous contests. 

Saturday's contest will be the first time Price faces the Rangers since leaving Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final with a knee injury that kept him out of the rest of the series.

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