FINALS PREVIEW

46-28-8 (100 points, third in Atlantic Division) 45-31-6 (96 points, second in Metropolitan Division) 1 p.m. today

Montreal swept Tampa Bay in four games; New York defeated Philadelphia in seven games

Montreal defeated Boston in seven games; New York defeated Pittsburgh in seven games

Montreal, 2-1

The Rangers and Canadiens have not met in a playoff series since 1996. They split their previous 14 postseason series … Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is tied for the postseason lead in save percentage (.931) and is second in goals-against average (1.99). Canadiens goalie Carey Price has been very good in the playoffs, as well. He has a 2.15 goalsagainst average and .926 save percentage. … Lundqvist is 4-5-2 (3.87/.876) at the Bell Centre, his worst numbers in any building in which he has played more than three games. … The Rangers will attend the funeral of the mother of forward Martin St. Louis in Quebec on Sunday. … P.K. Subban has four goals and eight assists and leads all playoff defensemen in goals and points. Subban leads the Canadiens in points, though Montreal’s top forward line of Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher began to excel in the final games of the Boston series. … Rangers coach Alain Vigneault was given his first headcoaching job by the Canadiens in 1997. He coached 266 games for Montreal.

Montreal in seven. Both teams are coming off draining, emotional series. Home ice hasn’t meant much yet in the East, but it might be the difference in this one.