NY Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and prediction

The New York Rangers (3rd in Metropolitan) play their penultimate game of the regular season as they take on the Buffalo Sabres (5th in Atlantic) on Monday at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.

New York and Buffalo both still have something to play for as a win for either club will help its postseason implications.

Here are my picks and predictions for this matchup between these Eastern conference teams with odds powered by Tipico Sportsbook.

Rangers vs. Sabres puck line: Sabres +1.5 (-140)

The Sabres have been one of the best teams covering the puck line all season long. Buffalo is 45-33 against the spread (4th best in NHL), while posting the best ATS record in the league (26-12) on the road this year.

The Rangers have won by two or more goals in five of their prior six home matchups. The last time the Blueshirts didn't cover this spread at MSG was on Mar. 21 in a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

I'm betting on the Sabres to keep this one close at the Garden.

Rangers vs. Sabres total: Under 6.5 goals (+102)

For the second time in his last eight starts, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin recorded a shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. New York's netminder is heating up at the right time as he's won 10 of his last 12 starts and allowed three or fewer goals in all 12 of those games.

This matchup has been great to the under as 10 of the last 14 meetings have gone below the projected total including both games earlier this season.

With Shesterkin getting the start Monday night and undoubtedly playing his best hockey of the season, wager on the under as I believe we'll see six or fewer goals scored in this one.

Rangers vs. Sabres moneyline: Rangers (-210)

This matchup has been one of the closest in the NHL as seven of the previous 10 contests have been decided by one goal.

I expect we see yet another tight matchup with the Blueshirts coming out on top as Shesterkin has a stellar performance with the postseason looming.

If you don't want to pay the -210 price, go to Tipico Sportsbook and wager on New York to win in regulation at -133.

My Best Bets

Place a bet on the Rangers moneyline (-210), the Sabres to cover the +1.5 puck line (-140) and the under 6.5 total goals scored at +102 on Tipico Sportsbook.