NHL Highs and Lows: Rangers Rolling
Play is starting to pick up after the NHL All-Star Game and so is the action when it comes to dealing veteran players.
The New York Rangers have been busy piling up points and adding players to the roster as they have points in 10 straight games. Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins haven’t made a deal yet, but did get back first-line winger Jake DeBrusk.
Some of the teams on the other end of the spectrum have been showing signs of life so that has resulted in some changes at the bottom of the weekly NHL power rankings.
The Boston Bruins (+500) continue to have the best odds to win the Stanley Cup title according to the NHL playoff odds. Colorado (+750), Carolina (+750) and Toronto (+1000) aren’t far behind.
Let’s check the latest NHL news, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines. We’ve got plenty of NHL picks for you to consider.
Top Five
1. Bruins
The Bruins did have a rough stretch of games heading into the NHL All-Star break. However, they have won four of five games since play resumed and outscored the Nashville Predators and New York Islanders 11-2 over the last two games.
Boston just got winger Jake DeBrusk back after he missed 17 games with a leg injury. He was eased back into action as seven other Boston forwards saw more ice time, but DeBrusk had a goal and an assist in his first game back.
Boston heads into Monday’s action with a 13-point lead in the Atlantic Division and a seven-point cushion on the rest of the NHL.
Boston is 35-20 against the NHL betting lines and that is second only to Philadelphia.
- Championship odds: +500
2. Rangers
The Rangers are rolling right now with an 8-0-2 record over the last 10 games. ArtemiPanarin leads the NHL with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) during that stretch while the 10 goals scored by Mika Zibanejad are the most in the NHL.
New York is not resting on its laurels, acquiring forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Motte, as the Rangers look to make noise in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers did trade away 25-year-old Julien Gauthier and veteran Sammy Blais in the deals. However, they still have their top 15 scorers.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 19, 2023
If the Rangers win on Monday, they will have 17 wins both on the road and at home. New York’s 75 points would be enough to lead both the Central and Pacific divisions. However, it is only third in the Metropolitan Division.
- Championship odds: +1200
3. Hurricanes
Carolina is 12-1-1 over the last 14 games to take command in the Metropolitan Division.
The Hurricanes are second in the NHL in goals per game and goals against during that stretch.
Carolina played six overtime games in January and is 6-0-2 in its last eight one-goal games so this is a team that knows how to win the tough games.
After scoring nine goals in a span of six games, Sebastian Aho has just one goal and one assist over the last four so he will look to get going again.
- Championship odds: +750
4. Knights
There have been plenty of ebbs and flows this season for the Golden Knights. Things are trending in the positive direction once again as Vegas has won five games in a row and has outscored its opponents 24-9 during the winning streak. The Golden Knights continue to hold onto the top spot in the Pacific Division.
Jonathan Marchessault ended a 13-game run without a goal as he scored twice in a win over Tampa Bay the last time out.
Vegas has 10 players with at least 10 goals and none with 20 so a key has been getting contributions throughout the lineup.
- Championship odds: +1600
5. Kings
The Kings are certainly fun to watch, especially since play resumed after the NHL All-Star Game.
Los Angeles has scored 22 times during its four-game winning streak. Adrian Kempe leads the way with six goals in those four wins as the Kings are just a point out of first place in the Pacific Division.
There have been 26 goals scored in the last three games played by the Kings so there has been no lack of excitement in Los Angeles.
- Championship odds: +3500
Bottom Five
28. Blues
Not far removed from winning a Stanley Cup, the Blues have already traded away two key pieces from that championship team. Vladimir Tarasenko is now with the New York Rangers and Ryan O’Reilly was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
St. Louis was held to 20 shots on goal in a loss to defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado and then was blown out by Ottawa so these are trying times for the Blues.
- Championship odds: +20000
29. Canucks
The change of coaches has done little to alter the path the Canucks are on.
Vancouver did snap a three-game losing streak with a win over Philadelphia on Saturday with EliasPettersson having five points in the win.
However, the Canucks are in the NHL than being a playoff team. and that recent trade of Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders is an indication that Vancouver is ready to go into a full-blown rebuilding mode.
- Championship odds: +25000
30. Flyers
The Flyers have won just once since play resumed and scoring goals has been a real chore.
With Philadelphia struggling to score and allowing 16 goals over the last three games, the results have been pretty predictable as the injury-plagued season continues in Philadelphia.
Three of the final four games in February come against teams with winning records so it could be worse before it gets better.
The Flyers do lead the NHL with a 37-20 record against the Las Vegas odds.
- Championship odds: +50000
31. Sharks
Not only have the Sharks lost three games in a row, but the two best players on the team (defenseman Erik Karlsson and winger Timo Meier) are rumored to be on the trading block.
If they leave, one has to wonder how the Sharks will score. San Jose has just four goals in a three-game losing streak with them on the ice.
Karlsson continues to be the front-runner in the odds to win the Norris Trophy according to the sportsbook.
San Jose is just 3-11 in overtime games and 1-5 in shootouts. The five shootout losses are the most in the NHL and only Dallas has more overtime defeats than the Sharks.
- Championship odds: +100000
32. Ducks
Anaheim is on the verge of becoming the first NHL team this season to allow 100 more goals than they have scored.
The Ducks, who have the fewest points in the NHL, have dropped four games in a row and allowed 26 goals during that time. The Ducks are also the only team still in single digits in wins at home and on the road. Not having winger Troy Terry is not ideal. However, Trevor Zegras does have points in his last four games.
