Islanders vs Rangers Prediction, Stream, Odds and Picks Dec 22

Can Islanders Cool Off Rangers?

The New York Islanders have been slowly slipping down the rankings. After starting 15-8-0, they’ve since lost seven out of their last 10 games. Their most recent shortcoming was a 1-0 shootout defeat at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.

The good news is they’ve had a few days to rest and regroup before they meet their cross-town rivals.

As for the Rangers, they were on a seven-game winning streak before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Can they rebound and cash on the NHL betting odds?

Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Islanders vs Rangers. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.

Islanders Look to Get Back on Track

The Islanders had been a quality playoff team earlier this season, but their recent losing stretch could be cause for concern. Goaltenders Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov are viewed as a strong one-two punch, but that hasn’t been the case of late.

Sorokin is 10-10-1 on the year with a 2.36 GAA and a .926 save percentage. However, he is 0-4-0 in December with a .901 save percentage. He’s been alternating starts with Varlamov, which might make this Varlamov’s turn.

What’s interesting to note about Varlamov is that he’s far more effective at home than on the road. Those who bet online should note that he’s 4-0-0 at home with a 2.01 GAA and .930 save percentage but is 4-3-0 on the road with a 2.98 GAA and .914 save percentage.

If you’re making your bets in the sportsbook, double-check who is in the net before locking in your wagers.

Rangers Aim to Continue Surge

Goaltending has been excellent for the Rangers during his hot stretch. They’ve only allowed a team to score over four goals once in the past eight games.

Much of that can be attributed to them leaning heavily on Igor Shesterkin, with him starting all but one of those last eight. There’s a strong chance he’ll be the starter in the crease again.

Shesterkin has a 16-5-4 record, a 2.42 GAA, and a .918 save percentage. He’s been a significant upgrade over their backup Jaroslav Halak. Halak is 2-6-1 with a 3.04 GAA and a .890 save percentage.

Islanders vs Rangers Game Injuries

Islanders vs Rangers Head-to-Head

These two squads have met up twice already this season, with the Islanders winning both matchups.

Islanders vs Rangers Game Information

• Game: Islanders (18-13-1) vs Rangers (18-10-5)
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Day/Time: Thursday, Dec. 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
• Islanders vs Rangers Live stream:NHL.TV

Islanders vs Rangers Betting Lines

Islanders vs Rangers Picks & Prediction

The Rangers are listed as substantial favorites, and much of that can be attributed to their recent surge up the standings while the Islanders struggle to get back on track.

Make sure you evaluate who is in the net before making your NHL picks; if it’s Varlamov, the Rangers look like a good play.

The New York Islanders are listed at +145 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the New York Islanders, you have a chance to win $145. The New York Rangers are -165, offering a chance to win $61 on a $100 wager.

The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Islanders a 40.82% chance to win, with the Rangers at 62.26%.