The Rangers are a conundrum for sports activities bettors.
Most seasoned NHL handicappers lean closely into 5-on-5 metrics to develop their energy rankings, and by these numbers, the Blueshirts grade out as an above-average group this season. In response to Pure Stat Trick, the Rangers boast the Twelfth-best anticipated objectives charge and fourth-best high-danger scoring likelihood proportion at even power.
New York’s defensive numbers are even stronger. No group concedes fewer high-danger scoring possibilities per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 than the Rangers, and solely three groups boast a greater anticipated objectives in opposition to ranking than the Blueshirts.
The goaltending has been excellent, too. The Rangers lead the Japanese Convention with a .908 save proportion.
A group with that sort of defensive profile and goaltending needs to be in the direction of the highest of the standings, however the Rangers’ scoring woes are so profound that they had been Twelfth within the Japanese Convention on the primary day of December.
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A part of the issue is personnel, however the Blueshirts additionally aren’t creating possibilities, seemingly due to their dedication to enhancing their defensive construction after a disastrous 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Extra dangerous information on that entrance got here on Sunday when Adam Fox, who’s tied with Artemi Panarin for many factors on the group (26), was positioned on long-term injured reserve.
With Fox out of the lineup, the Rangers might want to lean into their defensive construction much more, particularly in opposition to a group just like the Dallas Stars, who rank third within the NHL in objectives per recreation.
The Stars boast loads of scoring punch, however they’re additionally fairly snug enjoying in tight-checking contests because of their goaltending and defensive construction. Don’t be stunned if Tuesday’s recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard will get caught in first gear.
The Play: Beneath 5.5 (-108, BetRivers)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, however a long-profiting sports activities bettor with 10 years of expertise within the playing business. He loves utilizing recreation idea to assist punters win bracket swimming pools, discover lengthy photographs, and learn to beat the market in mainstream and area of interest sports activities.
