A pair of teams that have put themselves squarely in playoff contention, the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers take the ice at Madison Square Garden in a Metropolitan Division showdown. MSG2 will broadcast the game, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9.
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers Odds
New Jersey is 16-12 straight up (SU) and has earned 8.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. 13 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 13 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Devils are 10-5 SU as a road team in 2017-18.
New Jersey has converted on 20.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it has successfully killed off 81.7 percent of its penalties.
The Devils, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over its last five total, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .919 save percentage and 30.3 saves per game, Cory Schneider (12-9-3) has been the top option in goal for New Jersey this season. Schneider did just play last night, however, so head coach John Hynes may decide to rest him and turn to Keith Kinkaid instead (5-4-1 record, .896 save percentage, 3.29 goals against average).
Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Devils. Hall (29 points) is up to nine goals and 20 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Hischier has five goals and 15 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 13 games).
New York is 15-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.9 units this season. Through 28 regular season contests, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 11-7 SU at home this year.
The Rangers have converted on just 20.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is also ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
Rangers players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist has stopped 27.6 shots per game as the primary option in goal for the Rangers. Lundqvist has 13 wins, 11 losses, and two OT losses and has maintained a pedestrian 2.72 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this season.
The Broadway Blueshirts offense will be led by Mats Zuccarello (five goals, 17 assists) and Mika Zibanejad (11 goals, 11 assists).
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
New York is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 2-2 in shootouts.
Four of New Jersey’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
