Winnipeg Jets vs. New York Rangers Prediction, NHL Odds
Following a 4-0 win against Detroit on Saturday, the Rangers are two points back of Carolina for the Metro lead. Winnipeg’s playoff chances took a hard hit with Saturday’s 7-4 loss in Tampa Bay. The Jets sit 10 points back of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference and have been all but officially eliminated from postseason contention.
New York is a -211 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.
Jets vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds
The Rangers took the only other meeting between these teams this year, downing the Jets 4-1 in Winnipeg on March 6. Igor Shesterkin had a standout performance for New York, stopping 45 of 46 shots faced.
Winnipeg is stumbling at the worst possible time and come into Tuesday with losses in six of their last eight games. They’re 40-36 against the spread this season, including 21-18 ATS on the road. This could be a high scoring contest. The total has gone Over in four of the Jets’ last five games overall and four of their last five on the road.
With a game in hand over Carolina, the Rangers, who have won five of their last six games, have a legit shot at claiming the Metro crown. They’re 39-37 ATS this year, with covers in 17 of 37 home games. The total has gone Over in six of New York’s last seven games against Western Conference teams.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets look like they are out of gas and they will almost certainly miss out on the playoffs this year. Playing the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, the Jets were outshot 37-18 by Tampa and managed just four pucks on net in the third period. Paul Stastny, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Blake Wheeler had the Winnipeg goals. Nikolaj Ehlers assisted on the Stastny goal to extended his point streak to a career-high nine games. Connor Hellebuyck allowed seven goals on 25 shots before being replaced by Eric Comrie. Comrie stopped all five shots he faced. Mark Scheifele missed his third game in a row with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Scheifele didn’t travel with the team on the road trip and could be done for the year. Kyle Connor continues to lead the team with 87 points and 43 goals.
Winnipeg’s struggling goaltending is in a tough spot as the team is still technically in the playoff hunt, although it’s unlikely they’ll actually reach the playoffs. Hellebuyck, who has started an NHL-high 64 games, has been pulled in his last two starts after giving up 11 goals in games the Jets desperately needed to win. He is 2-4-1 in seven starts this month, allowing 26 goals in that stretch. Comrie has won five of his last six starts and has posted an 8-3-1 record this season, with a 2.74 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
New York Rangers
Alexis Lafreniere led the way for New York on Saturday, burying two third period goals to snap an eight-game point drought in a 4-0 home win. Mika Zibanejad and Frank Vatrano also scored, while Shesterkin turned aside 20 shots for his fifth shutout of the season. Barclay Goodrow had two assists. It was the Rangers’ 49th win of the season, the most since picking up 53 in 2014-15. Zibanejad’s 77 points (28G, 49A) is a new career-high. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 90 points (22G, 68A), while Chris Kreider has hit the 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career, obliterating his previous career-high of 28. Panarin is the first Ranger to hit 90 points since Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Shesterkin is expected to get the start in net for this one. The 26-year-old is a -557 favourite to win the Vezina Trophy this season. Shesterkin has a 35-11-4 record and leads the NHL in GAA (2.05) and SV (.935). He has two shutouts in his last four starts. Kaapo Kakko will miss Tuesday’s game after leaving Saturday’s contest with a leg injury. The Finnish winger is listed as week-to-week.
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