The New York Rangers (22-25-6) and New York Islanders (28-19-5) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, N.Y. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Islanders are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (47-cents / 55-cents). The Islanders are a 58-cent favorite to win outright, while the Rangers are 44-cents to pull off the upset on Fanatics Markets.
Let's get into my Rangers vs. Islanders predictions and NHL picks.
Rangers vs. Islanders Odds, Pick
- Rangers vs. Islanders Spread: Islanders -1.5 (36-cents), Rangers +1.5 (65-cents)
- Rangers vs. Islanders Over/Under: 6.5 (47-cents / 55-cents)
- Rangers vs. Islanders Moneyline: Rangers 44-cents, Islanders 58-cents
Rangers vs. Islanders Preview
New York Rangers
If you’ve been a reader of mine, you’ll know how bearish I am on the Rangers this season. It’s no secret – the Blue Shirts have been victims of injuries and mediocrity, and after “The Letter 2.0,” we may see a new look roster sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, this is who we have: a depleted roster that’s missing two of their best players in Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, with a captain in J.T. Miller who has been known to ruffle feathers.
Not just that, there’s already a report out that the Rangers don’t plan on extending one of their star forwards, Artemi Panarin, either.
So, yeah… not a whole lot to like here. Over the past two weeks, New York has played to a 10th-worst 47.85 xGF% and on the defensive end, a 12th-worst 2.88 xGA/60.
Oddly enough, those numbers are higher than the Islanders’, but the reason for the lack of success has been goaltending.
With Shesterkin out, it forced the Rangers to lean on Jonathan Quick and Spencer Martin. Quick had already transitioned out of being a starter at the ripe age of 40 and Martin hasn’t been anything more than a third-stringer his whole career.
New York Islanders
On the heels of acquiring defenseman Carson Soucy from the Rangers, the Islanders begin a home-and-home series with their crosstown rivals.
The Islanders’ season has certainly been saved by their goaltending, whether it be Ilya Sorokin or David Rittich, because their 5-on-5 play has suffered.
They have a lot of promise with puck movers like Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom, but there are times when the offense can stagnate.
Just look at Monday night, for example. The Islanders walked into Philadelphia and came out with a 4-0 shutout, but the Flyers had outplayed them with a higher expected goals rate in all situations.
I have been encouraged as of late with New York’s special teams, though, as it has gotten better over time. Its penalty kill has been consistently good all season with an 82.8% success rate and while the power play is near the bottom, you’re starting to see chances get generated at a higher level.
Sorokin’s efforts to keep this team afloat though, should easily put him in the Vezina discussion. It’ll be interesting to see if coach Patrick Roy opts for him or David Rittich in the back-to-back, because Rittich has come back down to Earth over the past month.
Rangers vs. Islanders Prediction
With this being a home-and-home, the goaltending matchups will be critical here.
I tend to favor the Islanders because of the Sorokin factor, but I wonder if Roy opts to play Sorokin at The Garden tomorrow.
But that doesn’t discount what the Rangers may do here.
If Quick starts tonight against, let’s say Rittich, we have a pretty solid opportunity to bet a regulation tie. Both of these teams play a similar style, and while the Islanders may be more talented up front, the Rangers are probably structured better, led by coach Mike Sullivan.
My thesis with this game is that it’s a pretty even matchup and my original choice is to ride with the under here.
However, if Martin is revealed to be the starter, that may change.
It just feels like 6.5 is too high a number for both of these low-powered offenses. So for now, I will take the under.
Pick: Under 6.5
