Two of the league’s best at fending off power plays, the Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers clash at Madison Square Garden for a West-versus-East showdown. MSG Network will showcase the game, and the action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 19.
Anaheim Ducks vs. New York Rangers Odds
The Rangers are 18-15 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 1.2 units this season. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to the 48-34 record the team posted during the 2016-17 season campaign. Among its 33 games this season, 19 have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 13-8 SU at home this season.
New York has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
New York, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five games at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.0 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Henrik Lundqvist (16 wins, 12 losses, and two OT losses) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Rangers this year. If head coach Alain Vigneault chooses to give him the night off, however, the team might turn to Ondrej Pavelec (2-6-6 record, .914 save percentage, 3.04 goals against average).
The Broadway Blueshirts will continue looking for offensive production via Mats Zuccarello and J.T. Miller. Zuccarello (27 points) has tallied eight goals and 19 assists and has recorded two or more points six times this year. Miller has six goals and 18 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 17 contests.
On the other bench, Anaheim is 14-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 21 of its contests have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team, Anaheim is 6-9 SU so far.
Anaheim has converted on 18.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully defended 83.7 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.8 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five games. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
John Gibson (31.0 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Anaheim. Gibson owns a 10-16-5 record, while registering a .921 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Ducks, the offense will be coordinated by Corey Perry (six goals, 16 assists) and Rickard Rakell (eight goals, 12 assists).
Anaheim Ducks at New York Rangers Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Anaheim’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-4 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of New York’s last five outings.
Over New York’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
Anaheim skaters have accounted for the league’s fifth-most hits per game (23.7), but that number’s down to just 19.8 hits over their last five away games.
