The New York Rangers (53-21-4) visit the New York Islanders (35-27-15) Tuesday at UBS Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Islanders odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Rangers lead 2-0
The Rangers have picked up wins in 3 straight outings, with 2 of the wins by a single goal. The Blueshirts are on a 8-1-0 run, too, with 5 of the wins by 1 goal. The Over has cashed in 5 straight outings, averaging 4.6 goals per game (GPG), while allowing 3.6 GPG.
The Islanders picked up a 2-0 win against the Nashville Predators on home ice in Saturday’s tilt, and they have posted 4 straight wins to get into position for the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 85 points, a point clear of the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, and 2 points ahead of the Washington Capitals.
These teams met on St. Patrick’s Day at Madison Square Garden, with the Rangers posting a 5-2 win as moderate favorites (-145) and the Over (5.5) cashing. The Blueshirts also won outdoors in the Stadium Series game on Feb. 18 in the 1st meeting, taking a 6-5 win in overtime as the Over (6) also cashed easily. In fact, the total has gone high in 4 straight meetings, with an average of 8.3 combined GPG.
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Rangers at Islanders odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:34 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Islanders +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+185) | Islanders +1.5 (-225)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Rangers at Islanders projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (34-16-2, 2.64 GAA, .911 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Semyon Varlamov (11-8-4, 2.72 GAA, .916 SV%, 3 SO)
Shesterkin is starting to round into postseason form, winning 5 of his past 6 games, while conceding 3 or fewer goals in 4 straight outings, and 7 of his previous 8 starts. He was between the pipes March 17 at MSG, allowing just 2 goals on 27 shots in the 5-2 win. Shesterkin also allowed 5 goals on 41 shots in the 6-5 OTW outdoors at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 18 in the Stadium Series game.
Varlamov is confirmed to start for the Isles. He has won 4 of his past 5 starts, and after going 3-1-1 with a 2.58 GAA and .916 SV% in 5 March starts, he is an even better 2-0-0 with a 1.49 GAA and .960 SV% in 2 April outings. He hasn’t faced the Rangers yet this season, however.
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Rangers at Islanders picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Islanders 3
Moneyline
The RANGERS (-130) are a decent play, although the Islanders (+110) are not going to be a pushover as they have been much more competitive lately.
The Isles are vying for a playoff spot, and come in with 4 straight wins. However, they haven’t been able to get over the hump lately when facing the Blueshirts, as the Rangers have won 3 straight in the series, scoring at least 5 goals in each of those victories.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Islanders +1.5 (-225) are way too expensive on the puck line as the underdog, if you need a little insurance, and can’t play them straight up.
The Rangers -1.5 (+185) have won 3 in a row in the series, and they’ve been on a heater lately, but they have won 5 of the past 8 games since March 21 by just 1 goal, so they can’t be trusted to lay the goals, especially on the road.
PASS.
Over/Under
OVER 5.5 (-115) is a strong play in this Battle of the Big Apple.
The total has ended up going high in 5 straight games for the Rangers, while going 12 of the past 13 outings since March 14. That includes the most recent victory against the Islanders on March 17 at MSG.
For the Islanders, the Under is on a 5-1-1 roll in the past 7 games, which is why the books have bumped this total down. But the Isles have scored a healthy 3.0 GPG in the past 4 outings, and we should get some fire-wagon hockey in this battle on Long Island.
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