Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Prediction, NHL Odds

Payton Matthews | Updated Dec 05, 2024

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It’s the front end of a back-to-back, which will affect the choice in net for the Penguins on Friday as they visit the talented but struggling Rangers.

Pittsburgh
20-22-4-4
AT
December 06, 2024, 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden
NY Rangers
24-20-4
Puckline +1.5 -145
Moneyline +165
Over / Under o +7
Matchup Odds
Puckline -1.5 +120
Moneyline -200
Over / Under u +7
Matchup Odds

The Rangers opened as -180 favourites on the NHL odds. 

Penguins vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds

Both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have had amazing, Hall of Fame careers with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they likely aren’t winning another Stanley Cup with that franchise before each retires as the Pens just aren’t that good these days. Frankly, their best move would be to trade one or both to help with the reboot, but that would be considered sacrilege for what the all-time greats have done for the franchise.

The Rangers are still very much Stanley Cup contenders, even if they haven’t been playing like it of late. They will be adding ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline per usual, not subtracting like Pittsburgh might be doing with some other players on the roster.

Friday marks the second of four meetings between these teams. They opened the season against one another in Pittsburgh and the Rangers rolled 6-0 behind a 29-shot shutout from former Vezina winner Igor Shesterkin. Chris Kreider scored twice for the Rangers. Tristan Jarry was in net for Pittsburgh. 

New York is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings, but the total has landed over in just two of those. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh has followed a three-game losing streak with four consecutive wins following a 5-4 OT home victory over defending Stanley Cup champion Florida on Tuesday. The Panthers had stormed back from down 4-1 in the third period to tie it at 11:27, but Bryan Rust’s eighth goal of the year was the winner at 1:31 of OT for his fifth point in the past four games. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and assisted on Rust’s winner. That was Malkin’s 42nd career OT point, breaking a tie with Patrick Kane for the most in NHL history. Sidney Crosby had his 1,022nd career assist on a regulation goal and moved within one of tying Gordie Howe (1,023) for fifth most by a player in NHL history with a single franchise. Tristan Jarry got off to a terrible start this season and was sent down to the AHL, but he appears to have found his rhythm as Tuesday was Jarry’s third straight win. However, it’s probably Alex Nedeljkovic (4-4-3, 3.31 GAA, .883 SV) in net for this one and then Jarry starting Saturday. Pittsburgh is 2-7 in its past nine road games. 

New York Rangers

The Rangers lost for the sixth time in seven games on Monday, 5-1 at home to New Jersey, and it’s perhaps time to worry about former Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin as he has lost five straight personally and since the start of November is 4-7-0 with a 3.46 GAA and .899 save per centage. Backup and former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Quick has been much better this season at 5-1-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .936 SV and he’s likely starting this one. Chris Kreider had the lone goal Monday and is second on the club with 10 but has zero assists on the year and is minus-2. Leading scorer Artemin Panarin (13G, 16A) is minus-3. Coach Peter Laviolette might not make it to 2025 if the Blueshirts don’t turn things around quickly. The Rangers are 5-1 in their past six at home vs. Pittsburgh. 

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Penguins vs. Rangers?

NHL Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • PIT
  • +165 -200
  • NYR
Matchup NHL Odds