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The New York Islanders (29-22-15) and the New York Rangers (44-19-4) meet Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Islanders vs. Rangers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Islanders are coming off a disappointing 4-3 loss in overtime at home against the Ottawa Senators. The good news is that they scored, as the Isles had been shut out in consecutive games on the road against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday and the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
The Rangers pounded the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-4 on Sunday in Pittsburgh, and New York has cashed in 4 of the past 5 games, while going 15-3-1 in the previous 19 outings dating back to Jan. 27. The Rangers cashed the Over in the past 2 games, scoring 10 goals and allowing 10 goals.
The last time these teams faced each other is worth mentioning, although it should be taken with a grain of salt. The Rangers outlasted the Islanders 6-5 in overtime in a Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. In a scheduling quirk, the last time these rivals met indoors was actually Dec. 22, 2022. They meet 3 more times between Sunday and April 13.
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Islanders at Rangers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:34 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Islanders +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Rangers -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Islanders +1.5 (-185) | Rangers -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Islanders at Rangers projected goalies
Ilya Sorokin (22-15-11, 2.99 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Igor Shesterkin (28-14-2, 2.60 GAA, .912 SV%, 3 SO)
Sorokin is confirmed to be in between the pipes after Semyon Varlamov started Saturday’s OTL against the Senators at UBS Arena. Sorokin coughed up 6 goals on 38 shots in the outdoor game against the Rangers.
Shesterkin didn’t start Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh, as it was Jonathan Quick holding down the fort. Shesterkin kicked aside 36 of the 41 shots he faced in the OTW against the Islanders outside in New Jersey.
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Islanders at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Islanders 2
Moneyline
The RANGERS (-165) are not priced out of line in this rivalry game at MSG. The Blueshirts have won the past 2 outings, and 3 of the previous 5, although 3 of the past 7 outings have been decided by 1 goal. It’s usually a rather heated rivalry with few blowouts.
The Rangers are just playing much better lately, lighting the lamp 7 times in the Steel City, while piling up the wins. The Islanders (+140) are not playing well, falling to the lowly Senators on home ice, while going 0-2-1 in the past 3 outings.
Puck line/Against the spread
The RANGERS -1.5 (+150) are worth playing lightly at plus-money on the puck line. While New York won the 1st meeting of the season in OT, that can be thrown out since it was outside, and a 1-off, as far as ice conditions, etc. New York won the most recent meeting indoors on Dec. 22, 2022, but even that carries a little less meaning.
The Rangers are 15-3-1 in the past 19 games, while covering the puck line as a favorite in the past 4 instances dating back to Feb. 25.
Over/Under
OVER 5.5 (-120) is the lean, but play a half-unit at most.
The Rangers have cashed the Over in the past 2, but the Under is 8-4 in the past 12 outings. And on no rest, the Rangers have hit the Over at a 6-5 clip in 11 instances this season.
For the Islanders, they’re also playing on no rest. The Over-Under is 2-2 in the past 4 games. On no rest, the Under cashed in Los Angeles last Monday, and the Under is 4-1-1 in 6 games when playing the 2nd end of a back-to-back, so do be careful.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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