Tuesday NHL Odds, Picks, Prediction: Anaheim Ducks vs. New York Rangers Betting Preview
Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Igor Shesterkin.
- The Rangers return to Madison Square Garden tonight, where they're favored against the Ducks.
- New York has ridden Igor Shesterkin all season, although he's looked human over his last few starts.
- Jonny Lazarus breaks down the matchup below and makes his betting pick.
Ducks vs. Rangers Odds
| Ducks Odds | +180 |
| Rangers Odds | -225 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Anaheim Ducks are set to wrap up a five-game road trip that has not been much fun for them on Tuesday night against the Rangers.
The Ducks have gone 0-4 in the first four games of the trip and are hoping to head back to southern California on a high note.
The Rangers are ecstatic to return to home ice after spending a week on the road, where they went 2-2-0 and didn't play their best hockey.
Anaheim Ducks Struggling on Road Trip
The Ducks have set themselves back in their quest for a playoff spot given how they've performed during this road trip. They're still in the hunt, but they're going to have to find ways to win down the stretch if they want a legitimate chance and getting into the postseason.
In the first four games of this trip, Anaheim has been outscored by a combined score of 18-8. The Ducks have a ton of offensive talent up front, but they haven't had much luck finding the back of the net. The offensive struggles are a tad uncommon for a Ducks team that has so much offensive firepower. Anaheim has been pretty strong all season long in that department, at 5-on-5 it's expected to score 2.42 goals per game.
The Ducks' power-play success has boosted their production. They have the eight-best power-play unit converting on 24% of their chances.
Two American-born forwards lead the attack in Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. Terry has 29 goals and 22 assists for 51 points in 57 games, while Zegras has 16 goals, 28 assists for 44 points in 55 games. The question is whether them or their teammates can beat the Rangers' Igor Shesterkin.
In goal for the Ducks will most likely be John Gibson, who is typically a much better goalie than his record shows. He is 17-18-8 on the season with a .906 save percentage and a horrific -10.3 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx).
Regardless of whether Gibson or Anthony Stolarz get the nod, the Ducks are going up against the best goalie in the league this year.
The Rangers Are Amazing on Home Ice
The Rangers are very happy to return to Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, after playing their last four games on the road. New York is 19-5-3 this season on home ice.
The Rangers are coming off an interesting road trip that saw Shesterkin finally look human. These weren't his best performances, but he has carried this team all season, so a slip up or two won't hurt them too bad. Shesterkin has allowed eight goals in his last two starts on just a combined 50 shots.
That being said, there's no cause for concern, as his play this year has been astounding. Shesterkin is 29-7-3 with a .938 save percentage and a league's best +30.7 GSAx. When he's in goal, the Rangers always have a chance.
The Rangers are very similar to Anaheim in that they also rely heavily on their power-play for offensive production. They have the second-best power-play in the entire league, converting at a 26.5% rate.
A lot of the attention in this game will be on special teams.
Ducks vs. Rangers Pick
The Rangers have been so strong on home ice all season long and with Anaheim's recent struggles on the road, it is very hard to see the Rangers dropping this one.
Both teams aren't very strong at 5-on-5, but the Rangers did happen to score six goals at even strength in their last game. I think that they will carry that momentum into this matchup with the Ducks, who are playing their fourth game in six days so we might see a fatigued Anaheim team.
The Rangers are a little too heavy for me as favorites, but I do think they will win this one in 60 minutes. I'm backing Shesterkin and the star studded New York Rangers offense.
Pick: Rangers to win in regulation -140
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