New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Predictions and Picks | NHL Dec 22
New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Betting Preview
The Rangers and Islanders sit 4th and 5th in the Metropolitan Division heading into their final regular season matchup against one another tonight. WagerTalk NHL handicapper Kevin Dolan breaks down this New York Rangers vs New York Islanders game giving his betting trends and angles before puck drop.
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New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Betting Odds
| Thursday, December 22 | NHL Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Moneyline: | New York Rangers -155 vs New York Islanders +135 |
| Puckline: | Rangers -1.5 (+160) / Islanders +1.5 (-190) |
| Total: | 5.5 (Over -110 / Under -110) |
| Arena: | Madison Square Garden in New York, NY(Odds Above Courtesy of DraftKings) |
| Game Time: | 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT |
New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Betting Analysis
It’s been three losses from their last four games for the New York Islanders over their recent road trip as they travel to MSG to take on the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
It’ll be the end of a pretty brutal road trip for the Islanders who have gone through two shootout losses over that stretch and gave up a multi-goal lead against the Arizona Coyotes also.
The New York Rangers meanwhile will be looking to start a new winning streak themselves after their old seven-game winning streak got snapped against Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
The Rangers took the lead early in that game through Chris Kreider but were pegged back by three subsequent goals from the Penguins who eventually went on to take the win.
The Islanders and Rangers have faced each twice already this season with the Islanders coming out on top in both games.
Huge Data Gulf For Islanders This Season
On the surface, the Islanders have a top-ten scoring defense this season allowing just 2.73 goals against per game with an opponent scoring conversion percentage of just 8.43% also, top five in the league overall.
However, that’s likely down to the Islanders having two of the best goalies in the league this year in Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin as the Islanders have been really sub-par on stopping opponent scoring chances this season, ranking 30th in the league overall on defensive xGA this year.
Rangers Look To Offense Once Again To See Them Past The Islanders
Two costly power play goals given up in the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday likely cost the Rangers the win in that one, and they’ll be eager not to make the same mistake again tonight.
On a plus note, the Rangers will look to rely on an offense that ranks 6th on total scoring chances this season and that scored at least six goals in three of their recent seven-game winning streak as well.
New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Prediction
Those back-to-back power-play goals given up by the New York Rangers on Tuesday night were almost an anomaly for this team as the Rangers rank top ten in the league this year on power-play goals against.
With Varlamov likely still sidelined with a lower-body injury for the Islanders in this one, Sorokin could get the nod here once again on Thursday and comes off a massive game on Monday night where he stopped 46 shots against the Colorado Avalanche.
If he fails to perform to that standard again here on Thursday, with as brittle as this Islanders team look on defense this year, at least data-wise, we have no choice but to look towards taking the New York Rangers on Thursday to win in regulation at +100.
Prediction: New York Rangers Win In Regulation +100
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Puck Time | NHL Betting Preview for December 22
Join Andrew McInnis, Carmine Bianco and Bryan Leonard for Thursday’s edition of Puck Time as our panel of professional hockey handicappers break down this weekend’s NHL betting card. Join the Puck Time crew every week day at 11am ET / 8am PT as we discuss the NHL betting slate from a variety of handicapping angles.
NHL Live Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the moneylines, pucklines, totals and betting percentages for all of Thursday’s NHL action, including this New York Rangers vs New York Islanders showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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Meet the Author
‘The sharpest sports mind in Ireland’ is how one prominent newspaper dubbed Kevin Dolan after he became the first foreigner ever to win the World Series of Handicapping tournament back in 2015. “The Irishman” made his start wagering on GAA, football, soccer and boxing, all to immense success.
Since becoming a professional bettor, he has since lit up the sports betting scene in the U.S. and abroad, winning two handicapping awards and writing a best-selling book on sports handicapping named ‘The Complete Guide to Sports Betting’.
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