New York Rangers at Boston Bruins odds, picks and predictions
The New York Rangers (20-7-1) meet the Boston Bruins (19-5-4) on Saturday at TD Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Rangers vs. Bruinsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Rangers are coming off a 5-1 win at home against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. They're facing their 2nd back-to-back situation in the past week. It was their last game with no rest, topping the Los Angeles Kings last Sunday by a 4-1 count behind G Jonathan Quick. The 37-year-old netminder also started against Anaheim Friday in the win.
The Bruins won a hard-fought and entertaining 5-4 shootout on the road against the New York Islanders on Friday night behind G Linus Ullmark. RW David Pastrnak saddened the home fans with the winner in Round 3 of the shootout. Boston is now 5-1-1 in the past 7 games after a 3-game losing skid from Nov. 24-27.
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Rangers at Bruins odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:15 a.m. ET.
Rangers at Bruins projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (10-7-0, 3.02 GAA, .902 SV%) vs. Jeremy Swayman (9-1-3, 2.07 GAA, .933 SV%, 2 SO)
Shesterkin has struggled in December, going just 1-3-0 with a 4.55 GAA and .865 SV%, awful by his standards. He has allowed 4 or more goals in 5 of his past 8 outings, too, so it has been more of a long-term skid.
Swayman hasn't had those kind of difficulties. He is 1-0-1 with a 1.47 GAA and .950 SV% in 2 December assignments, and he has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 4 straight starts and 11 of 14 starts on the season.
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Rangers at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Rangers 2
The BRUINS (-110) are a solid play in this Original Six battle. It really comes down to goaltending, and Boston is getting much better goaltending from Swayman than New York is getting from Shesterkin.
In addition, Boston has won 4 of the past 5 meetings in this series, although the Rangers (-110) did win a wild 7-4 game against the B's back on Nov. 25 at MSG.
The BRUINS -1.5 (+220) are a tempting play for the chance to more than double up.
Again, the key here is Shesterkin, who has coughed up 4 or more goals in 5 of his past 8 outings. That's great news for a Boston offense which has racked up 43 goals in 13 home games, or 3.31 GPG. And Swayman is limiting the opposition, so this is a strong play.
The OVER 5.5 (-115) is only worth playing lightly.
The Over has cashed in 9 of the past 13 games overall for the Bruins, but be careful, as the total has gone low in each of the past 3 starts for Swayman.
The total has gone low in 3 of the past 4 games for the Blueshirts, but the Over is 3-1 in the past 4 starts by Shesterkin. The trends are all Over the board for both sides.
When playing on no rest, the Over is 2-1 in 3 games for the Rangers, including the game Nov. 25 at home against the Bruins. For Boston, the Under is 2-1 in 3 games when playing on no rest, with the lone Over that 1st meeting against the Rangers.
