Vancouver Canucks at New York Rangers odds, picks and predictions
The Vancouver Canucks (25-11-3) visit the New York Rangers (26-10-2) in a Monday night test at Madison Square Garden. The opening faceoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Canucks vs. Rangers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Vancouver is making its 3rd stop on what is a monster 7-game road trip. On Saturday, the Canucks won 6-4 at the New Jersey Devils, and they are currently 1-1-0 on the trip.
The Rangers also played Saturday losing a 4-3 shootout at the Montreal Canadiens. A Blueshirts club that went a blistering 18-4-1 over its 1st 23 games is just 8-6-1 since. New York is 2-2-1 across its last 5 games.
The Rangers beat the Canucks 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 28 in Vancouver.
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Canucks at Rangers odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:48 a.m. ET.
Canucks at Rangers projected goalies
Thatcher Demko (19-8-1, 2.53 GAA, .916 SV%) vs. Igor Shesterkin (16-8-0, 2.75 GAA, .908 SV%)
Demko allowed 4 goals on 25 shots against the Devils on Saturday. The 7-year NHL veteran had a tremendous start to his season, posting a .926 SV% through the end of November. But he’s looking to regain that form after an .897 December.
Shesterkin registered a solid bounce-back start in his last on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. He had allowed 6 goals on Jan. 2 but held the Hawks to just 1 goal on 22 shots. Despite the shaky outing 2 starts back, he still owns a robust .923 SV% over his last 7 games.
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Canucks at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 3, Canucks 2
New York is 13-5-0 at home and has the special-teams advantage and a goaltender recently showing the kind of form that made him a Vezina Trophy finalist each of the last 2 seasons. The defense in front of New York netminders has tightened up over recent weeks, especially with regard to high-danger chances allowed in 5-on-5 play.
Vancouver is just 5-2-2 over its last 9 games, and that has come against not the strongest part of its schedule. The Canucks have lost 3 straight to the Rangers, with all 3 being since last February.
BET THE RANGERS (-145).
Respecting both sides’ attention to their own zone and will not pursue the more juice-tinged return on the Rangers here on the puck line. PASS.
With both sides being responsible in their own end and Vancouver not being a club that piles up penalty minutes (which would give the NYR 29.7% power play more traction), the Under has some pull here.
Add in the likely goalie matchup and the Rangers trending toward allowing fewer quality looks, and the UNDER 6.5 (-110) presents the best value.
