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Hudson River rivalry on a Thursday night, and the Rangers are getting plus money? Give me the Blueshirts. New York is 6-2, it’s allowed 14 goals in eight games, the fewest per game in the league, and the kid in net hasn’t given up much of anything.
The Matchup
- The Rangers are rolling. Wins in three of their last four: 5-2 over the Islanders, 6-2 over Vancouver and 4-1 over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Twenty-seven goals for, 14 against.
- The Devils have the puck a lot. New Jersey is 3-3 and has outshot opponents 218 to 156, so they’re not getting pushed around. They also lost 4-1 at home to Ottawa on Monday and needed overtime in Detroit on Tuesday.
- Puck drop. 7:10 PM ET at Prudential Center.
The Goalies
Dylan Garand is confirmed for the Rangers. He’s stopped 95.7% of the shots he’s seen in three games this year.
Nico Daws is the likely starter for New Jersey, and he’s at 82.4% in two appearances. Small samples on both sides, but that’s a big gap in the one spot that decides most hockey games.
The Number
Take the margin out of the price and the market has the Rangers winning about 45% of the time. Plus money with the stingiest defense in the league and the hotter goalie? That’s my side.
The honest case against: the Devils are shooting a ton, and a team putting up more than 36 shots a night is going to find the net eventually. It’s a Game Pick, a lean, and like every pick we post, it lands on the receipts page win or lose.
Bottom Line
Take the Rangers on the moneyline at . Lean. Best defense in the league, a hot goalie, and a plus-money price on the road. Blueshirts.
Lines as posted Thursday at 5:00 PM ET. Goalies per the teams’ morning reports; confirm them before puck drop.
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