NEW YORK AT MONTREAL

Here are five things to know about the Habs-Rangers game Saturday at the Bell Centre ( 7p.m., SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio), writes Pat Hickey.

1. The matchup

This is the second of three meetings between these teams this season. The Rangers were 5-3 winners at home Nov. 6. The Canadiens are on a five-game losing streak after dropping a 2-1 decision to Carolina at the Bell Centre Tuesday and they are out of a playoff position for the first time since the opening weekend. The Rangers, who are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Senators in Ottawa Thursday, are in third place in the Metropolitan Division.

2. Reinforcements on the way

Defenceman Shea Weber returned to the lineup Tuesday against Carolina and he showed he was in good shape after missing nearly a year of action, topping 25 minutes in ice time. There will be more help available for this game as speedster Paul Byron comes back after missing 14 games with a lower-body injury. He’s a game-day decision, but he’s spent two days practising with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Artturi Lehkonen, and Victor Mete was sent down to make room.

3. The goalie

Head coach Claude Julien has deferred making a decision on his starting goaltender, but it will be major surprise if Carey Price doesn’t start. Even though his numbers haven’t been good — a 7-7-4 record with a 3.11 goalsagainst average and an .897 save percentage — the Canadiens desperately need a win and that means relying on Price. The big decision will come on Sunday when the Canadiens are home to San Jose. Does Price get the back-to-back start if he plays well against the Rangers?

4. Where’s the offence?

The Canadiens have placed a renewed emphasis on defensive play and Weber’s return is welcomed, but the offence has slipped. Montreal ran into a hot goaltender Tuesday night when Carolina’s Curtis McElhinney matched his career high with 48 saves and the Canadiens have dropped from first to seventh in five-on-five scoring. The power play ranks No. 29 (14.4 per cent) in the NHL and remains a work in progress. The good news is it has produced a goal in four of Montreal’s past six games.

5. The other guys

Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers’ veteran goaltender, is rounding into form after a slow start. He has won seven of his last nine decisions, including that Nov. 6 game against Montreal when he made 34 saves. He has a 9-8-2 record with a 2.62 GAA and a .920 SP. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad share the Rangers scoring lead with 21 points. Kreider has 13 goals and is the only Rangers player who has hit double-digits in goals. Zibanejad and Jimmy Vesey have each scored eight.