New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Game 4 Prediction, NHL Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins look for a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series against the New York Rangers on Monday but are short home underdogs on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0 goals.
Rangers vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds
With Pittsburgh leading the series 2-1, it is -161 to win it (was +115 entering Game 3) with New York at +131 (was -141). I still like the Rangers in seven simply because of the Penguins’ goaltender situation, which we address below.
On the series leader after Game 5, the Pens are -263 and Rangers +209. The favoured exact series result is Penguins in six at +260, followed by Rangers at +275. That it ends in six games is +120, in seven +135 and five +335.
The favourite is 10-4 in the past 14 meetings.
New York Rangers
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is likely going to win the Vezina Trophy, but he was not Vezina-worthy (it’s regular season only) in Game 3 on Saturday. Shesterkin was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots in the first period – Coach Gerard Gallant simply was hoping to give his team a spark, and it did work as the Blueshirts would tie the game 4-4. However, backup Alexandar Georgiev allowed a bit of a soft goal at 11:02 of the third period, and the Penguins would add two empty-netters to prevail 7-4. No question that Shesterkin will start Monday.
Kaapo Kakko (first of series), Frank Vatrano (second), Artemi Panarin (second) and Andrew Copp (third) scored for New York – Copp is only the third player in franchise history to score a goal in each of his first three playoff games with the team. New York is 8-2 in its past 10 following a loss of three or more goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins
It will be third-stringer Louis Domingue in net again for Pittsburgh with Casey DeSmith lost to a season-ending injury in Game 1 and Tristan Jarry still out with his own issue. Domingue was great in relief in Game 1 but has allowed nine goals in the past two – his offence rescued him Saturday.
Evan Rodrigues had two goals and an assist in Game 3 (all three points in the first period), Jeff Carter two goals and Sidney Crosby two assists. Crosby now has 197 career playoff points, passing Hall of Famer Paul Coffey for sixth on the all-time list. The team’s seven goals were its most in a playoff game since 2018. Centre Rickard Rakell and blueliner Brian Dumoulin both missed Game 3 and are in question Monday. Pittsburgh is 2-7 in its past nine following a win.
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