New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders odds, picks and predictions
The New York Rangers (35-16-3) and New York Islanders (22-18-13) meet at MetLife Stadium Sunday. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Islanders odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Stadium Series continues in New Jersey as it’s the New York teams’ turn to play hockey outside. The Isles and Rangers met at Yankee Stadium back in 2014, with the Blueshirts coming out on top 2-1. The Rangers are a perfect 4-0-0 in outdoor games.
The meeting in 2014 is the lone time the Isles have played in an outdoor game. Sunday’s matchup is the 1st of 4 games that the New York teams will play this season.
The Rangers enter Sunday’s matchup on a 6-game winning streak. Only 5 players in the NHL have more points this year than LW Artemi Panarin (71), as the Breadman registered 3 assists in his team’s 7-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens this past Thursday.
Since taking over for a fired Lane Lambert Jan. 24, coach Patrick Roy has guided this Isles team to a 3-3-2 record. The Islanders enter Sunday with a 14% chance of making the playoffs, according to Moneypuck.com. Among defensemen, D Noah Dobson has recorded the 3rd-most points in the NHL thus far this season.
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Islanders vs. Rangers odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.
Rangers vs. Islanders projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (21-12-1, 2.78 GAA, .902 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Ilya Sorokin (16-12-10, 3.04 GAA, .911 SV%, 2 SO)
Shesterkin earned his 1st shutout of this season his last time out, blanking the Calgary Flames 2-0 Feb. 12. The 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner had allowed at least 3 goals in his prior 3 starts.
Sorokin shut out the Rangers back in Oct. 2022. No goaltender in the NHL has faced more shot attempts (1,288) and made more saves (1,174) than Sorokin this season.
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Rangers vs. Islanders picks and predictions
Prediction
Islanders 3, Rangers 2
BET ISLANDERS (+122).
With the depth perception presenting a challenge to both teams inside Metlife Stadium, I would rather take my chances on the underdog getting plus-money. Additionally, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette is 0-3-1 in his previous 4 games coaching in outdoor games.
PASS.
The Islanders’ opponent today is a 1st-place Rangers team that has not lost since it played the defending Stanley Cup-champion Vegas Golden Knights back in January. No way I would lay that much juice on the puck line.
BET UNDER 5.5 (-105).
The Isles have blocked the most shots (914) in the league and have delivered the most hits (1,413) in the Eastern Conference. Blueshirts captain D Jacob Trouba has the 3rd-most blocked shots in the league this season (151). Plus, only Seattle Kraken G Joey Daccord has more puck freezes (302) than Sorokin this season (264). Expect a gritty, low-scoring hockey game.
Only Montreal and the Nashville Predators give the puck away more than the Islanders, and it’s only gotten worse under Roy. If the Islanders are going to win this game, they are going to have to play conservative and limit the risky cross-ice passes.
