Nashville Predators at New York Rangers odds, picks and best bets
The Nashville Predators (14-12-5) drop the puck on a four-game road swing with Monday's Madison Square Garden tilt (7 p.m. ET) against a New York Rangers (16-12-4) squad returning from a four-game West Coast trip. We analyze the Predators-Rangers odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Predators at Rangers: Projected starting goalies
Pekka Rinne vs. Alexandar Georgiev
Rinne owns a 2.99 goals against average and .893 save percentage through 18 games. The .893 figure would be a career-worst for the 14-year veteran. Its been games of recent vintage that have sent Rinne's numbers so low. He owns a .854 SV% over his last 10 games. He is coming off a start in which he allowed four goals on 22 shots. The sample is small, but Rinne has been a bit better away from home during his slump.
Georgiev owns a fine 2.69 GAA on the strength of a .923 SV%. He has been even better than that of late. But a bit of regression - perhaps to the level of the 23-year old's play from Nov. 4-23 (.863 SV%), and the Preds could pounce.
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Predators at Rangers: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at Paste BN Sports for a full set of today's betting odds. Odds last updated at 11 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Nashville 3, New York 1
Moneyline (ML)
I pegged the Predators as a play in this one (better support analytics, NYR perhaps too far extended with 3.2 GAA) but not at more than -130. PASS on Nashville's -139 line.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Both teams generate a decent number of power-play opportunities. An expected bounce-back in the Preds' extra-skater effectiveness further backs up the already existing lean. I will pull the trigger here on the puck line and take NASHVILLE (-1.5, +190) to win by at least a pair of goals.
In the opening game of a multi-game road trip, the Predators are 2-1. In that same category - with the condition flipped to home stands - the Rangers are 1-3.
Over/Under (O/U)
A play on the UNDER 5.5 (+115) also has some value. This accounts for some positive regression from Rinne and the fact his numbers are a bit depressed from playing in the high-scoring and tough Central Division.
The Under is 5-2 over Nashville's last seven games. 7-0 in the Rangers' last seven as a home dog and 9-2 over New York's last 11 games overall.
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