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Edgar Chaput
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers Game 3 Prediction, NHL Odds
Come back from whence you came, Devils. That seems to be New York’s message through the first two games of Round 1. The Rangers have displayed more gusto, more grit, better balance, and more playoff experience. New Jersey is having a devil of a time making any sort of impact on the series.
The NHL odds have placed the host Rangers as -153 favourites on the moneyline and at +171 on the puckline. The total is set at 5.5.
Devils vs. Rangers NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
This is one series that the early predictions are getting very right so far. Despite that New Jersey earned itself home ice advantage, many felt the Rangers would still take the series from them. Through two games, there is no doubt who has been the better ensemble. Identical 5-1 wins on the road don’t mean that all is said and done – the Devils were an excellent road team this year – but coming back will be a tall order. The series odds see New York as -500 favourites and New Jersey as +407 underdogs.
That Lindy Ruff has gotten his players to perform as well as they have on the road this year is the one thing the Devils can cling to as they prepare for Game 3. Interestingly, the same goes for the Rangers, who also had a superior away form. Is this the opportunity the higher-seeded club needs to get back into the series? Could this end up being one of those odd playoff matchups where a game or two at home needs to be “stolen”?
No home game was stolen in the second contest, that’s for certain. Even though New York fell down 1-0 early and didn’t find its scoring touch until the middle frame, by the time the final whistle blew everyone knew who had played better hockey.
New Jersey Devils
Where do they go from here? Something will have to give. Either this team was woefully unprepared for a postseason run – which doesn’t mean that they never will be, just not this year – or they have some tricks up their sleeve come Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Erik Haula (first) got the crowd buzzing in the first period with a power play marker, suggesting that maybe Game 2 would be different. At least New Jersey took the initiative. But as the contest went on, it was clear that was not going to happen. Redirected shots from far away have been the death knell for the Devils thus far. They’ve coughed up too many goals in that manner and things will only get more difficult on defence when playing in hostile territory. Igor Shesterkin is a tremendous goalie to begin with. Challenging him 24 times a game is not going to get the job done. If Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jach Hughes are going to get the job done, the time is now.
New York Rangers
A road team can’t perform much better than it has through two games than the Rangers have in this series. Through 120 minutes, they look like the clear-cut favourite to win two more and do away with their regional rivals.
Even going down early didn’t phase them. Just like in Game 1, Vladimir Tarasenko got the offence going for the Rangers before Chris Kreider earned himself his second brace in two nights (third and fourth goals). Most of these are coming off deflections and if it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it. Until New Jersey finds a way to repel that method, there is no reason to stop using it. Lo and behold, new acquisition Patrick Kane also got in on the action early in the third period as he slily skated in from Vitek Vanecek’s right and roofed a backhander. It remains to be seen if they can continue dominating as thoroughly they have through two tilts, but things are looking good.
NJ
NYR