Islanders vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds, Picks: Blueshirts riding three-game win streak
Entering this game, the Rangers have played four games this season, while the Islanders have played only two. Both teams have looked solid early on, and make for a great Tuesday night bout.
The Islanders are 1-1-0 with a +5 goal differential, and the Rangers are on a three-game winning streak with a 3-1-0 overall record and +5 goal differential as well. This matchup is usually a fun one to watch, and Tuesday shouldn’t be an exception.
Islanders vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds
The Rangers are the -150 moneyline favourites in this game, but are +163 on the -1.5 puckline. The Islanders are +125 on the moneyline and -200 on the puckline, and there doesn’t look to be a huge gap between these teams, both of which have done well early in the season. The game total is expected to be low, as the over-under is 5.5 and is nearly a pick ’em.
Over the last couple of years, these teams have not traded wins with any regularity. In the last nine head-to-heads, the Rangers won five straight with a whopping +19 goal differential. But now, the Islanders enter this game having won four straight with a combined score of 14-3.
New York Islanders
The Islanders opened the season with a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs in a game they out-shot and out-hit Toronto. They then beat up the Devils 6-0 in the Islanders’ first home game of the year. Early on, this team has shown a strong ability to shut down opponents, as Islanders teams typically do.
Plenty of questions surrounded this team entering the season. In a small sample size, it looks like Peter DeBoer has this team playing a strong structural game, which they will need in Tuesday’s rival game. If the Islanders can tread water until Mathew Barzal returns, they could have a nice start to the season.
New York Rangers
The Rangers laid an egg in their lacklustre 3-0 loss to the Bruins in their season opener. They have since flipped a switch, taking down strong opponents in a three-game winning streak.
They beat the Lightning 5-1, the Red Wings 2-0, and the Mammoth 4-2. Tampa and Utah are widely expected to be in the playoffs this year, and New York made quick work of them. This will be a good litmus test to determine whether they can sustain that strong play.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Islanders vs. Rangers?
So early in the season, conventional wisdom suggests health and rest aren’t much of a factor. But the Islanders have played two games in a week and enter this game with two days’ rest. The Rangers have played four games in a week and will have just one day of rest. The Islanders may have a slight edge.
This also seems like a bit of a letdown spot for the Rangers. They have played well against good opponents, and it’s difficult to keep the same urgency once a team believes they’re as good as they’re playing. The Islanders played great in their lone home game, and get another chance Tuesday. This looks like a narrow 3-2 final, in favour of the Islanders.
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