It appears the New York Rangers have a goaltending problem as they look to save their season in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. New York is a -135 home favourite to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0 goals.

Penguins vs. Rangers NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

Well, our pick of Rangers in seven is still a possibility but not looking great with New York down 3-1 despite having what was supposed to be a mammoth edge in net with sure-fire Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin against Pittsburgh third-stringer Louis Domingue. It has not worked out that way in stunning fashion.

On the updated series line, the Penguins are -667 (were -161 entering Game 4) with the Rangers at +461. For exact series score, Pittsburgh in five is +115, followed by six at +225, Rangers in seven at +475 and Pens in seven at +550. That it ends in five games is +115, seven +215 and six +225. To win the East, Pittsburgh is +656 and New York +1889.

Pittsburgh is 2-5 in its past seven in New York.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins dominated in the two games at home in this series, following a 7-4 win on Saturday with a 7-2 rout on Monday. Sidney Crosby had his sixth straight playoff game with multiple points vs. the Rangers on Monday with a goal and two assists and became the sixth player in NHL postseason history with 200 career points. Evgeni Malkin scored the 66th postseason goal of his career to move into sole possession of third place on the franchise’s all-time list and a share of 21st in league history. Jake Guentzel became the first player in Penguins history to score at least one goal in each of the team’s first four games from the start of a postseason. Seven different players scored a goal. The Penguins scored seven goals in consecutive playoff games for the first time in franchise history and became the fourth NHL team to do so in the last 28 years. Domingue allowed two goals on 24 shots. Pittsburgh is 3-7 in its past 10 following a win. It is 15-3 all-time in a series when leading 3-1.

New York Rangers

This writer simply doesn’t have an explanation for the disintegration of Rangers star netminder Shesterkin in this series. He was pulled for the second straight game Monday, allowing six goals on 30 shots in just under 40 minutes of action. Yet coach Gerard Gallant said that the Russian will start Game 5:

“He’s probably real frustrated. It’s a team effort and he’ll be back in there and be ready to win the next game. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him. I’m more disappointed in our team than him. At least three pucks were deflected by him. But we just played a soft game.”

New York actually took an early 1-0 lead on Monday before imploding. Alexis Lafreniere (20 years, 210 days) became the 11th Rangers player to score a postseason goal before age 21. New York is 2-18 all-time in a series when trailing 3-1. The Rangers are 8-3 in their past 11 following a loss of three or more goals. Shesterkin was better at home during the regular season, so we are going to back the Blueshirts to force a Game 6.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Penguins vs. Rangers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Penguins Team Leaders

PIT

Points	Jake Guentzel 84
+ / -	Brian Dumoulin 24
Shots	Jake Guentzel 264
Penalty Mins	Kris Letang 49
Wins	Tristan Jarry 34
GAA	Louis Domingue 2.02

NYR

Points	Artemi Panarin 96
+ / -	Mika Zibanejad 30
Shots	Chris Kreider 258
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 88
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 36
GAA	Keith Kinkaid 2

PIT

Points	Jake Guentzel 10
+ / -	Kasperi Kapanen 4
Shots	Jake Guentzel 39
Penalty Mins	Mike Matheson 6
Wins	Louis Domingue 3
GAA	Casey DeSmith 2.02

NYR

Points	Mika Zibanejad 24
+ / -	Ryan Lindgren 8
Shots	Mika Zibanejad 63
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 25
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 10
GAA	Alexandar Georgiev 2.04

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rangers Team Leaders

PIT

Points	Jake Guentzel 84
+ / -	Brian Dumoulin 24
Shots	Jake Guentzel 264
Penalty Mins	Kris Letang 49
Wins	Tristan Jarry 34
GAA	Louis Domingue 2.02

NYR

Points	Artemi Panarin 96
+ / -	Mika Zibanejad 30
Shots	Chris Kreider 258
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 88
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 36
GAA	Keith Kinkaid 2

PIT

Points	Jake Guentzel 10
+ / -	Kasperi Kapanen 4
Shots	Jake Guentzel 39
Penalty Mins	Mike Matheson 6
Wins	Louis Domingue 3
GAA	Casey DeSmith 2.02

NYR

Points	Mika Zibanejad 24
+ / -	Ryan Lindgren 8
Shots	Mika Zibanejad 63
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 25
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 10
GAA	Alexandar Georgiev 2.04

Injuries

Pittsburgh

Brian Boyle (C)

Out indefinitely Leg - 13 / 05 / 22

Sidney Crosby (C)

Ques Sun Head - 11 / 05 / 22

Brian Dumoulin (D)

day-to-day Lower Body - 05 / 05 / 22

Casey DeSmith (G)

out for season Abdominal - 04 / 05 / 22

Rickard Rakell (RW)

Ques Sun Head - 03 / 05 / 22

Jason Zucker (LW)

Ques Sat Lower Body - 26 / 04 / 22

Jason Zucker (LW)

Ques Sat Illness - 22 / 04 / 22

Jeff Carter (C)

Prob Sat Lower Body - 21 / 04 / 22

Evan Rodrigues (C)

Ques Thurs Illness - 13 / 04 / 22

Bryan Rust (RW)

Ques Thurs Illness - 13 / 04 / 22

NY Rangers

Filip Chytil (C)

Ques Thurs Upper Body - 07 / 06 / 22

Barclay Goodrow (RW)

Prob Tues Lower Body - 06 / 06 / 22

Ryan Strome (C)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 05 / 06 / 22

Barclay Goodrow (RW)

Prob Mon Lower Body - 30 / 05 / 22

Ryan Lindgren (D)

day-to-day Undisclosed - 30 / 05 / 22

Ryan Lindgren (D)

Prob Fri Lower Body - 19 / 05 / 22

Barclay Goodrow (RW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 05 / 05 / 22

Ryan Lindgren (D)

Out Wed Lower Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Keith Kinkaid (G)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 03 / 05 / 22

Artemi Panarin (LW)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 26 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Pittsburgh

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Brian Boyle (C)	Out indefinitely	Leg - 13 / 05 / 22	0-2	2-0	+ -
Boyle is sidelined by a leg injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Sidney Crosby (C)	Ques Sun	Head - 11 / 05 / 22	1-2	3-0	+ -
Crosby is managing a head injury, and it is up in the air if he will face the Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Brian Dumoulin (D)	day-to-day	Lower Body - 05 / 05 / 22	3-3	6-0	+ -
Dumoulin has a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Hurricanes.
Casey DeSmith (G)	out for season	Abdominal - 04 / 05 / 22	3-3	6-0	+ -
DeSmith will sit out the remainder of the 2021-22 season after undergoing core muscle surgery.
Rickard Rakell (RW)	Ques Sun	Head - 03 / 05 / 22	4-3	7-0	+ -
Rakell is managing a head injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Rangers.
Jason Zucker (LW)	Ques Sat	Lower Body - 26 / 04 / 22	4-5	7-2	+ -
Zucker is dealing with a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Rangers for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jason Zucker (LW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 22 / 04 / 22	6-5	8-3	+ -
Zucker is dealing with a non-COVID-19 illness, and it is undecided if he will be active for Saturday's tilt against the Red Wings.
Jeff Carter (C)	Prob Sat	Lower Body - 21 / 04 / 22	7-5	8-4	+ -
Carter exited the last contest due to a lower-body injury, but it is projected that he will suit up against the Red Wings on Saturday.
Evan Rodrigues (C)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 13 / 04 / 22	8-6	10-4	+ -
Rodrigues exited the previous matchup due to an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will be active for Thursday's tilt against the Islanders.
Bryan Rust (RW)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 13 / 04 / 22	8-6	10-4	+ -
Rust was removed from the last game due to an illness, and it is unclear if he will be in Thursday's lineup against the Islanders.

NY Rangers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Filip Chytil (C)	Ques Thurs	Upper Body - 07 / 06 / 22	1-2	0-3	+ -
Chytil is dealing with an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will dress for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Lightning.
Barclay Goodrow (RW)	Prob Tues	Lower Body - 06 / 06 / 22	1-2	0-3	+ -
Goodrow is expected to suit up for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Lightning despite a lower-body ailment.
Ryan Strome (C)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 05 / 06 / 22	2-2	0-4	+ -
Strome is battling a lower-body injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Lightning in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Barclay Goodrow (RW)	Prob Mon	Lower Body - 30 / 05 / 22	5-2	3-4	+ -
Goodrow is expected to take on the Hurricanes in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second round despite a lower-body injury.
Ryan Lindgren (D)	day-to-day	Undisclosed - 30 / 05 / 22	5-2	3-4	+ -
Lindgren was forced from Monday's game with an unknown issue, and it is unclear if he will return.
Ryan Lindgren (D)	Prob Fri	Lower Body - 19 / 05 / 22	8-4	3-9	+ -
Lindgren is expected to suit up for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Hurricanes despite a lower-body injury.
Barclay Goodrow (RW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 05 / 05 / 22	11-8	10-9	+ -
Goodrow is out of commission with a lower-body ailment, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Ryan Lindgren (D)	Out Wed	Lower Body - 04 / 05 / 22	11-8	10-9	+ -
Lindgren is nursing a lower-body injury, and he will not suit up for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Penguins.
Keith Kinkaid (G)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 03 / 05 / 22	12-8	10-10	+ -
Kinkaid is out of commission due to an upper-body injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Artemi Panarin (LW)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 26 / 04 / 22	12-11	12-11	+ -
Panarin is tending to an upper-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Penguins.