New York Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks odds, picks and predictions
The New York Rangers (32-16-3) and Chicago Blackhawks (14-35-2) clash Friday. The opening faceoff at the United Center is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Rangers vs. Blackhawksodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
New York heads to Chicago after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 Wednesday. The Rangers may have been well-served by the All-Star break. They went just 3-6-2 from Jan. 6-26 but have won 3 straight -- 2 since the break -- over their last 3 games.
The Blackhawks hosted the Minnesota Wild Wednesday. The banged-up club with the fewest points in the NHL (30) lost to the Wild 2-1. Chicago heads into Friday night looking to snap a 5-game losing streak (0-5-0).
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Rangers at Blackhawks odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.
Rangers at Blackhawks projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (19-12-1, 2.86 GAA, .899 SV%) vs. Petr Mrazek (12-20-1, 2.89 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SO)
Shesterkin is making his 1st post-break appearance after struggling over the back half of January (.845 SV% Jan. 18-26). The good news for New York bettors is that 1 of the netminder's best starts last month came against these Blackhawks. Shesterkin held Chicago to 1 goal on 23 shots Jan. 4.
Mrazek also started that Jan. 4 meeting; he allowed 4 goals on 32 shots. He allowed 2 goals in the Minnesota loss Wednesday and owns a winless .941 SV% over his last 4 starts.
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Rangers at Blackhawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 3, Blackhawks 2
Chicago is a lean on the puck line but not deserving of a look here unless the return were to jump about 15 cents. STEER CLEAR.
New York is playing its 3rd game since the break and its 1st on the road. Not too far back in the Rangers' rearview mirror is a 1-4-2 stretch on road ice (Jan. 6-23), and New York has not generated a ton of quality scoring chances in its 2 games of the 2nd half.
Speaking of such chances, the Chicago defense coughed up 15 five-on-five high-danger looks Wednesday and has been prone to a few such games since mid-January. But the 'Hawks have had seven 1-goal games in their last dozen, and Mrazek between the pipes gives Chicago enough of a chance of staying close. He owns a sparkling .928 SV% in the United Center this season.
BACK THE BLACKHAWKS +1.5 (-105).
The 'Hawks have often at least been pesky against good teams. In their games against over-.500 clubs, the Under has gone 15-8. Overall, the Under is 8-2 in their last 10 games and 12-3 across their last 15.
New York has scored 2 goals or fewer in 5 of its last 7 on the road. Chicago has done well of late to stay out of the box; that could tamp down the impact of the Rangers' excellent 26.6% powerplay.
