Madison Square Garden plays host to a Metropolitan Division clash as the New York Rangers face off against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the fourth and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. NBC Sports Network will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers Odds
Pittsburgh (-180) is currently favored over New York (+160), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -135 money on the over and +115 on the under.
Pittsburgh is 40-30 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. 38 of its outings have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the road team in 2017-18, the Pens are 14-21 SU.
Pittsburgh enters the match up with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 25.9 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it has successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.1 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 4.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .909 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Matt Murray (25-16-2) has been the top option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If Pittsburgh decides to rest him, however, they could turn to Tristan Jarry (14-11-2), who has a .910 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average this year.
The visiting Penguins will be led by Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Malkin has 87 points via 39 goals and 48 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 22 different games. Kessel has 28 goals and 50 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 48 games.
New York is 31-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 37 of its outings have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 19-17 SU at home this season.
New York has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
New York skaters have been sent to the penalty box only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist (29.2 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for New York. Lundqvist has 25 wins, 33 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has registered a mediocre 2.92 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this year.
Mats Zuccarello (14 goals, 34 assists) will lead the attack for the Broadway Blueshirts.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in three of New York’s last five outings.
Penalties and power plays could be critical in tonight’s game. The Penguins are 19-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 25-19 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Rangers are 11-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 20-23 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Pittsburgh is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-5 in shootouts.
New York has created 7.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.8 takeaways per game (ranked 4th in the NHL).
Pittsburgh skaters have created 11.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 7.0 takeaways per game (ranked 20th in the league).
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