Two clubs squaring off for the second time this season, the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings face off at Little Caesars Arena in an Original Six tilt. The opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29, and it’s being shown live on Fox Sports Detroit.
New York Rangers vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
With a -135 moneyline, New York comes into the game as the favorite. The line for Detroit sits at +115, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 to bet the over, +105 for the under).
New York is 20-17 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.1 units this year. Through 37 regular season matches, 20 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Broadway Blueshirts are 5-8 SU as a road team in 2017-18.
New York has converted on 19.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the sixth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Broadway Blueshirts have been penalized just 3.7 times per game this season, and 4.6 per game over its last five matchups. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.0 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Henrik Lundqvist (17-14-3) has been the best option in goal for New York this season. If head coach Alain Vigneault decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Ondrej Pavelec (3-6-1 record, .924 save percentage, 2.61 goals against average).
Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Rangers. Zuccarello (29 points) is up to eight goals and 21 assists, and has recorded two or more points in six different games. Buchnevich has 11 goals and 14 assists to his credit, and has notched at least one point in 19 games.
Detroit is 13-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season contests, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while another 18 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 6-12 SU as the home team this season.
The Red Wings have converted on 21.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.
Detroit players have been penalized 4.0 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five games. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard has denied 25.4 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Red Wings. Howard has 10 wins, 20 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a pedestrian 2.82 goals against average and a poor .908 save percentage this year.
Dylan Larkin (five goals, 25 assists) will lead the offensive attack for Detroit.
New York Rangers vs. Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Three of New York’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Detroit’s last five games.
Detroit has averaged 2.7 goals per game this year, but has been averaging 1.7 goals per contest over its three-game losing streak.
Four of New York’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 3-1 in those games.
