NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Rangers vs. Kings (November 22)

Rangers vs. Kings Odds

The Pacific Division's Los Angeles Kings host the Metropolitan Division's New York Rangers in one of Tuesday's two-game slate. Entering this matchup, there have been five or fewer total goals scored in each of the last four meetings between these two clubs.

Will we get another low-scoring affair, or can the goal-scoring pick up this time around?

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Rangers Have Dominant Shesterkin In Net

The Rangers enter this contest amidst a flurry of low-scoring contests as there have been five or fewer total goals scored in each of their last four games. This trend should continue on Tuesday as goaltender Igor Shesterkin is slated to start between the pipes for New York.

Coming off his Vezina-winning season, Shesterkin has picked up right where he left off. Through 14 starts this year, he is 9-2-3 with a .917 SV% and 2.34 GAA.

Shesterkin is 3-0-1 with a .935 SV% and 1.73 GAA over his last four starts. Based on his metrics, regression should not be an issue for the star netminder as he ranks 10th among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5v5.

This stellar play should continue against Los Angeles, a team he has dominated over the past couple of seasons. Across two career starts against the Kings, Shesterkin is 2-0 with a .962 SV% and 1.45 GAA.

Playing in front of Shesterkin is a defense that has improved since last year. At 5v5, New York ranks 10th in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Buy Low On Kings' Quick

Across the ice, goaltender Jonathan Quick is slated to start for the Kings. While Quick has not had the strongest of starts to the campaign, this game could be a good opportunity to buy low on the Kings netminder based on his previous success against the Rangers.

Through his last five starts against New York, Quick is 3-1-1 with a .927 SV% and 2.17 GAA. Part of the reason for this recent success is because of the stylistic matchup of these two coaches.

Entering his fourth season with the club, head coach Todd McLellan plays an aggressive style of defense around the net and the defensemen will typically pressure the puck carrier and make life frustrating if the opposing team tries to cycle down low. This style of defense excels against teams that rely on low cycles to generate their offense, which is exactly how the Rangers set up in the offensive zone.

It also helps that Los Angeles' defense has also improved since last season. At 5v5, the Kings rank fourth in the league in xGA/60.

This strong defense has led to a lot of unders for the Kings recently as there have been five or fewer total goals scored in six of their last eight games.

Rangers vs. Kings Pick

It is no coincidence that the under has been a strong trend between these two clubs over the last couple of seasons considering the McLellan and Gerard Gallant coaching styles. While New York's offense features some strong firepower, it should once again be stifled by the Kings' defensive system of wreaking havoc on teams that rely on low cycles.

Meanwhile, the under is typically a safe bet when Shesterkin is between the pipes for the Rangers. One of the best goaltenders on the planet, he will likely continue his excellent stretch of goaltending against a team he has dominated over the past couple of seasons.

All the trends point toward the under, and with this style of matchup and Shesterkin in net, I would be shocked if we see more than six total goals. If the line crashes, I would still take the under at 5.5 if the juice stays at -115 or better.

Pick: Under 6

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