In their last head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the New York Rangers and the Nashville Predators clash at Bridgestone Arena in an East-West showdown. The first puck will drop at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 3, and fans at home can witness the game live on MSG Network.
New York Rangers at Nashville Predators Odds
New York (+160) is entering this one as the underdog to Nashville (-180) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Netting moneyline bettors 7.2 units, Nashville is 30-19 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league so far in this young season, is an improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (41-41). Through 49 regular season matches, 26 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 17-8 SU at home.
The Predators currently tout the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they have converted on 24.4 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
The Predators, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.7 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five contests home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 28.9 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (25-11-3) has been the top goalkeeper for Nashville this year. If the Preds, however, decide to rest him, Nashville may turn to Juuse Saros (5-9-9 record, .927 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
The Preds will continue to lean on the leadership from P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg. Subban (38 points) is up to 12 goals and 26 assists and has recorded two or more points in nine different games this year. Forsberg has 16 goals and 20 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 25 contests.
Over on the other bench, New York is 25-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 51 regular season matches, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, the Rangers are 8-14 SU so far.
The Rangers have converted on 19.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
New York’s players have been penalized only 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist (28.4 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for New York. Lundqvist owns a 21-22-4 record, while registering a .919 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Rangers, the offense will be coordinated by Mats Zuccarello (eight goals, 29 assists) and J.T. Miller (11 goals, 21 assists).
New York Rangers vs. Nashville Predators Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Seven of New York’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-6 in those games.
Power-play chances may prove to be critical tonight. The Rangers are 10-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-15 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Predators are 13-3 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-8 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Nashville is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-4 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Nashville’s last five games.
Nashville skaters have averaged 11.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.1 giveaways per game (ranked 15th in the NHL).
New York is ranked 32nd this season with 13.1 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended lower, however, as it’s averaged 8.4 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.6 giveaways over its last five.
