New York Rangers (13-10-1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (11-12-4)
December 6, 2024 at 07:30 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: New York Rangers -185 / Pittsburgh Penguins +150 — Over/Under: 6.5
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers meet Friday in NHL action at Madison Square Garden. Here’s a Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Prediction. This article will include a Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Pick.
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Flames and Panthers, and play the Maple Leafs, Avalanche, and Canadiens next. The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 2.81 goals per game and are scoring 22.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Rickard Rakell leads Pittsburgh with 10 goals, Sidney Crosby has 18 assists, and Erik Karlsson has 66 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3.78 goals per game and are killing 79.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Tristan Jarry has allowed 32 goals on 276 shots faced, and Alex Nedelijkovic has given up 40 goals on 342 shots.
New York Rangers Betting Preview
The New York Rangers lost to the Devils, beat the Canadiens, and they play the Kraken, Blackhawks, and Sabres next. The New York Rangers are averaging 3.17 goals per game and are scoring 23.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Artemi Panarin leads New York with 13 goals, Adam Fox has 20 assists, and Vincent Trocheck has 63 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Rangers are allowing 2.92 goals per game and are killing 85.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Igor Shesterkin has allowed 53 goals on 579 shots faced, and Jonathan Quick has given up 13 goals on 203 shots.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The underdogs have won each of the Penguins’ last four games.
- The Rangers have lost three of their last four games as favorites.
- The Rangers have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games at Madison Square Garden.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last five games as road underdogs following a home win.
- The Rangers have lost the third period in each of their last four games as favorites.
New York Rangers Player Prop Facts
- Chris Kreider has scored at least one goal in six of the Rangers’ last seven games as favorites against the Penguins.
- Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one point in 16 of the Rangers’ last 17 games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Mika Zibanejad has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Rangers’ last nine games against Metropolitan Division opponents at Madison Square Garden.
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Evgeni Malkin has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Penguins’ last eight games as road underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Rickard Rakell has scored a goal in three of the Penguins’ last four games as underdogs.
- Sidney Crosby has recorded a point in each of the Penguins’ last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The New York Rangers rank T2nd in the league for power-play goals against this season (11).
- The New York Rangers are one of only two teams in the league to rank top 10 for both power play and penalty kill percentage this season.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 30th in the league for shots against per game this season (32.7).
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank T3rd in the league in short-handed goals allowed this season (1).
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Prediction
The New York Rangers are going to get the benefit of the doubt at home for obvious reasons, but I’m not laying these prices with a team that’s lost 6 of their last 7 games. The Rangers have been getting drilled on defense during this losing stretch, and they’re losing bettors money left and right. Yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins have issues of their own and haven’t had much recent success against the Rangers. Still, almost a -200 price with a slumping Rangers team isn’t the move. It’s Penguins or pass for me.