Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Rangers: NHL Odds, Prediction

Andrew Rogers
Last Updated: November 26, 2017

Few teams have been hotter this month than the New York Rangers, who seek their fourth straight victory in a Sunday matinee with the Vancouver Canucks. The Broadway Blueshirts came into the month with just four wins in their first 13 games, but improved to 8-2-0 in November with a 2-1 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Vancouver is 2-1-0 midway through its six-game East Coast swing following Friday’s 3-2 loss in New Jersey.

Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Rangers

Moneyline: Rangers -180
Date: Saturday, November 26, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

You’ll always get generous odds taking West Coast teams in afternoon road games against East Coast opponents, and the Canucks are no exception. And there are a handful of trends that make Vancouver a suspect option; it has won just 16 of its past 57 games on one day of rest, and is 7-19 in its previous 26 games against the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Rangers have been dangerous at MSG, having won seven consecutive home games.

It’s hard to get a handle on how to handle the 5.5-goal game total given both teams’ trends. Vancouver has exceeded the total in four of its past five games, but is just 2-8 O/U in its previous contests against teams with winning records. Meanwhile, New York has gone below the total in seven of its last 10 games against teams that scored two or fewer goals in their previous game, but are 6-1 O/U in their last seven contests following a victory.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have been alternating goaltenders over the past two weeks, but they might want to give Anders Nilsson more of a look. The 27-year-old has gone 5-1-1 in his seven games this season, boasting a 2.25 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. And with five of those games coming on the road, Nilsson has an even bigger leg up on No. 1 Jacob Markstrom, who comes into Sunday with a 2.62 GAA and a .911 save percentage.

New York Rangers

For most of the month of October, fans and bettors couldn’t stop talking about Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s struggles. Those people probably aren’t talking as much anymore, with Lundqvist turning things around this month: He has made every start so far in November, boasting a 2.05 GAA to go along with a .937 save percentage and one shutout. Yet, you wouldn’t know it by totals trends, with the Rangers going 8-3 O/U in their last 11 home games.