The New Jersey Devils (27-28-12) make the short trip east to square off against the New York Rangers (36-27-4) in a Metropolitan Division tussle at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Saturday night. We analyze the Devils-Rangers odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Devils at Rangers: Projected starting goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood vs. Alexandar Georgiev
Blackwood sat in Friday’s 4-2 win over St. Louis — a win that upped New Jersey’s record since Feb. 1 to 9-4-4 — and is tabbed for this turn at MSG. The Devils’ youngster allowed five goals on 25 shots Jan. 9 in a 6-3 Devils loss in the same building. Overall, the 6-foot-4, 23-year-old is 21-13-8 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 45 games this season. Blackwood has been sharp on the road (.922 SV%) and on a major roll (.961 SV% over eight games since Feb. 6.
Georgiev has scuffled a bit at home, allowing five goals Thursday, his most recent start there. But that game — a 6-5 Rangers win in overtime — was against the Washington Capitals, a much more potent offense than the New Jersey attack he’ll see Saturday. Overall this season, the 24-year-old is 17-14-1 with a 3.05 GAA and .910 SV% in 33 games. Georgiev has registered a fine .943 SV% in two starts against the Devils this season, including a 33-save road shutout on Nov. 30.
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Devils at Rangers: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
Prediction
New York 3, New Jersey 2
Moneyline (ML)
Recent successes for the Devils aren’t supported by peripheral analytics, and a good case can be made that New Jersey is way out over its skis with even 27 wins so far. New Jersey has lost four in a row at Madison Square Garden. The past goalie-vs.-opponent numbers stack up in favor of the Rangers. And New Jersey has been awful in road games after a solo contest at home.
Take NEW YORK (-200).
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Rangers to win straight up would return a profit of $5.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Rangers (-1.5, +125) have just one multi-goal win at home since Feb. 5. Going against Blackwood tamps down that angle even further.
PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under is: 8-1 in the Devils’ last nine games … 5-2 in the Rangers’ last seven home games … 7-1 in New York’s last eight games against sub-.500 teams.
Through Dec. 31, the Blueshirts allowed 3.8 goals per game on an average of 35 shots allowed. They’ve buttoned things up since, allowing 2.8 GPG on 33 shots per contest. Play the UNDER 5.5 (+120).
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