New York Islanders at New York Rangers odds, picks and best bets
The New York Islanders (27-12-4) make the short trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers (21-19-4) Monday for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Islanders-Rangers odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Islanders at Rangers: Projected starting goalies
Semyon Varlamov vs. Alexandar Georgiev
Varlamov owns a 2.33 goals against average and .923 save percentage in 28 games. The 31-year-old netminder has been terrific on the road (1.84 GAA, .936 SV%) and has excelled since the calendar flipped to January (1.76 GAA, .941 SV% through four games). Varlamov's .935 SV% in 5-on-5 action is one of the best in the game. He stopped 41-of-43 in his last game against the Rangers (Oct. 16, 2018).
Georgiev has been out for a few games, with the Rangers testing the wares of rookie G Igor Shesterkin. On the season, the 23-year-old owns a 3.17 GAA and .909 SV% through 20 games (19 starts). Last season, Georgiev logged a .967 SV% over three games against the Islanders. He hasn't appeared in a game since Jan. 4, but he has fared well on long rest intervals this season.
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Islanders 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 11:50 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Islanders 3, Rangers 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Islanders' scoring is down lately (2.1 goals per game over the team's last nine contests)- due to recent power-play struggles and a low team shooting percentage (12.6% over the last 10 games) on low-slot scoring chances. The Isles do a credible job in creating the latter, and that's how they outscore some projections based on broad puck-possession stats.
The sizable difference between these two Gotham foes is defense. The Islanders rank second in the league in fewest goals allowed; the Rangers rank 23rd. Yes, the Rangers have won four in a row at MSG. But they lost four straight on home ice before that. Overall, the Blueshirts are 12-8-2 at home. The Isles are 6-2 over their last eight on the road. Take the visiting side in this one: ISLANDERS (-134).
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Rangers are 29-15 against the puck line and 15-7 against the number at home. We won't cross that or get weighed down in the extra juice on the Islanders (-1.5, +200) line. The Islanders are tied for the NHL lead with 15 wins by one goal.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 5.5 (+105) is a lean. It will become a strong play only on a line move north of +108. Worth watching, although the line has been static since it was posted.
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