-
Edgar Chaput
New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils Game 7 Prediction, NHL Odds
The Devils had an opportunity to avoid a seventh and deciding contest on Saturday night in Game 6. Things started off quite well too. New Jersey opened the scoring in the first period and the team’s checking kept New York at bay. It was all downhill starting in the second period with the Rangers eventually pulling away for a 5-2 win, thus trying the series 3-3.
The NHL odds have New Jersey at -120 and New York at -101. This game is clearly a toss-up. The total is set at 5.5.
Rangers vs. Devils NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
Gerard Gallant’s Rangers squad is no stranger to playoff series that go back and forth, requiring plenty of courage and moxie to get through. They played two of them in last year’s playoff run. What’s more, in both instances it was New York who had to battle back from deficits. Pittsburgh had them against the ropes 3-1 in the initial round, whereas Carolina held a 3-2 edge in the second round.
As we’ve written in previous game previews, this is mostly new territory for the current crop of Devils players. Lindy Ruff has coached in many intense playoff matchups, most of them coming during his time with the Buffalo Sabres in the late 1990s and right up until the 2010s.
Something that might be cause for concern is New Jersey’s home performances this season. They are not only 1-2 thus far against the Rangers, but they also weren’t as good at home as they were away during the regular season. They’ve had many flat performances at Prudential Center during the campaign, and while it would be quite demoralizing to come out flat in a Game 7, the fact is the Rangers might hold a unique edge just because they’re the road team.
New York Rangers
It had felt like an eternity since New York’s offence got going. The flurry of goals in the first two contests against the Devils subsided for three consecutive matches during which New York couldn’t get anything done.
For much of the first period, especially since the visitors scored first, it felt as though this was it for the Rangers. Once again there simply wasn’t much space to manoeuvre during five-on-five play. But New Jersey took a penalty very late in the opening frame and, guess who, Chris Kreider (sixth) tipped in a shot from distance. The goal did more than tie the tilt 1-1. It provided life to the Rangers and Madison Square Garden. Mika Zibanejad, who hadn’t netted through five gamesome through in the second on a fine wrist shot that beat Akira Schmid high. Funnily, Vladimir Tarasenko (third) did the same before the second period ended and one could feel the tide really turning. Barclay Goodrow (first) made it 4-1 on a great counter-attack and Braden Schneider 5-1 before the Devils got a consolation goal.
New Jersey Devils
Game 6 was a rinse-and-repeat of the first two bouts in this series. One supposed that as long as the team does what it did in contests 3 through 5, then it has a good chance of winning. If it allows a similar style of game like on Saturday to play, they might be sunk.
The fact of the matter is that New Jersey has only won games when their rival’s offence was totally nullified. When the Rangers start clicking, it’s always felt as if the Devils fold, at least from an outsider’s vantage point. They also scored first through Curtis Lazar, who pounced on a rebound from in close to beat Igor Shesterkin. But they also scored first in Game 2 and got rocked anyways. The Devils had the fourth-highest offence in the NHL during the regular season, yet have put at least three pucks past Shesterkin in a game only once (Game 5). Timo Meier has 24 shots on goal in the series and zero points.
NYR
NJ