Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Picks, Predictions, Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers hook up at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on Tuesday night for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, a best-of-seven series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.
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Score Prediction
Rangers 5, Penguins 2
Best Bet
Rangers -125
Rangers -1.5 (+210)
Over 5.5 (+105)
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS PREDICTIONS
These division rivals have met four times since Feb. 26, with the Rangers winning the past three battles. Pittsburgh won 1-0 on home ice back on Feb. 26 in the first meeting, with the Blueshirts bouncing back at MSG with a 5-1 win on March 25. The teams squared off again four days later in the Steel City, and again, the Penguins won 3-2. In the most recent meeting, the Rangers won 3-0 behind a 30-save shutout from Igor Shesterkin. The UNDER cashed in three of the four meetings.
These teams meet in the postseason for the first time since 2016 when the Penguins won in five games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Prior to that it was the Rangers winning in five games in 2015, and then the Rangers won a classic second-round matchup in seven games during the 2014 en route to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. This will be the eighth postseason series between these teams, with the Penguins winning five of the seven previous series. The Rangers also topped the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1928 in the Quarterfinals.
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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING ODDS
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING RESOURCES
- Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
- Matchup: Metro
- Venue: Madison Square Garden
- Location: New York, New York
- TV-Time: ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 46-25-11
- ATS: 40-42
- O/U: 40-39-3
The Penguins have struggled with the Rangers this season, and now Pittsburgh must try and get on track against New York with backup netminder Casey DeSmith, as Tristan Jarry is out indefinitely due to a foot injury. D Nathan Beaulieu and LW Jason Zucker will also missed the series opener due to lower-body injuries.
Pittsburgh enters 11th in the NHL with 3.3 goals per game during the regular season, and they were sixth with 34.7 shots per outing. However, the Pens were in the bottom half of the league with a 20.2% power-play percentage, good for 19th. On the kill, the Pens were a very good 84.4%, ranking third in the NHL, but that could take a hit with Jarry on the shelf.
NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 52-24-6
- ATS: 42-40
- O/U: 32-47-3
The Rangers weren't nearly as prolific offensively, posting 3.0 goals per game to rank 16th in the NHL, while checking in 28th on shots per game (29.2). New York was a very impressive fourth during the regular season on the power play, hitting at a 25.2% clip. The Rangers are a good team on the kill, too, registering an 82.3% mark to rank seventh in the NHL.
New York is healthier than Pittsburgh, with only C Andrew Copp and LW Artemi Panarin listed with lower-body injuries, although both are fully expected to be ready. The Rangers have outscored the Penguins 11-3 in three wins, all by Shesterkin, just since March 25.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS CONCLUSION
The Rangers have had their way against the Penguins lately, and things are looking even better for the Blueshirts since the Pens will be missing Jarry for at least Game 1, if not longer. DeSmith has filled in at times and done an admirable job, but he isn't the kind of goaltender who can steal a series even when he isn't at his best, and he isn't anywhere close to championship caliber. On the other hand, Shesterkin does fit the description above, and New York could ride the Russian backstop deep into the postseason.
The best bet here is taking the Rangers for a big win, and look for a rare OVER in this series, as New York should go bonkers on offense in front of a raucous crowd, similar to what we saw Monday night in Carolina and in Toronto. Expect the same kind of results.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING TRENDS
- Penguins are 5-8 in the past 13 games overall.
- Penguins are 1-5 in the past six road games.
- Penguins are 0-5 in the past six as an underdog.
- Rangers are 1-3 in the past four games overall.
- Rangers are 5-3 in the past eight home games.
- Rangers are 8-2 in the past 10 as a favorite.
- UNDER is 4-2 in the past six games for the Penguins.
- UNDER is 4-2 in the past six road games for the Pens.
- UNDER is 7-4-1 in the past 12 games for the Rangers.
- UNDER is 5-3-1 in the past nine as a fave for the Rangers.
- Home team is 7-2 in the past nine meetings.
- UNDER is 3-1 in the past four meetings.
BETTING ON THE 2022 NHL PLAYOFFS
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