The New York Rangers (35-18-9) kick off a 4-game road trip Saturday against the Boston Bruins (48-8-5) at TD Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Rangers were on the short end of a 5-3 setback at home against the Ottawa Senators Thursday. RW Patrick Kane made his Blueshirts debut but was scoreless with a minus-2 rating in the setback. New York is now just 2-4-1 across the past 7 games.
The Bruins roughed up the Buffalo Sabres by a 7-1 Thursday, the team’s 9th consecutive win. Boston has scored at least 3 goals in each of the outings during the streak, averaging 4.4 goals per game (GPG).
These teams last met Jan. 19 in New York, with the Bruins coming away with a 3-1 win behind G Jeremy Swayman. Boston also recorded a 5-2 win on Nov. 3 behind G Linus Ullmark, also at Madison Square Garden in NYC.
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Rangers at Bruins odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:42 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Bruins -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-180) | Bruins -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Rangers at Bruins projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (27-10-7, 2.63 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (31-4-1, 1.88 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO)
Shesterkin allowed just 2 goals on 28 shots in a 3-2 OT win at the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday. He has won back-to-back outings, yielding 2 goals in each contest, following a rough span that saw him concede 4 or more goals in 4 straight appearances.
Ullmark is looking to become the first Boston netminder to win the Vezina Trophy since Tuukka Rask in 2013-14, and he is the clear-cut favorite at the books. In fact, this is a battle between the Vezina favorite for this season, and last year’s winner.
The 29-year-old Swede has been throwing a blanket on the opposition all season and is showing no signs of slowing down. He has won 6 straight starts, and he wrapped up February 6-0-0 with a 1.80 GAA and .947 SV%. Ullmark even scored an empty-net goal on Feb. 25 in Vancouver.
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Rangers at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Rangers 2
Moneyline
The BRUINS (-170) are a little pricey, but it’s not the worst price in the world. Boston has topped New York by a combined 8-3 score in a pair of wins earlier this season, and this is the first meeting at TD Garden. Look for the B’s to continue to roll.
Puck line/Against the spread
The BRUINS -1.5 (+155) are a decent play on the puck line. Boston has won both of the previous meetings by at least 2 goals, and each of those outings was in New York.
Boston has won 9 consecutive games, with 5 of them coming by 2 or more goals.
The Rangers are just 1-5 in their last 6 tries against Atlantic Division foes and have cashed in just 2 of the previous 7 games overall. And the B’s are 12-5 in the previous 17 meetings overall in the series.
Over/Under
The OVER 5.5 (-125) is a little pricey for a total, but we should see enough goals in this matinee action.
The Rangers have cashed the Over at a 9-4 clip across the past 13 games overall and it’s 5-1 in their last 6 against teams with a winning overall record.
Be careful, though, as the Under has dominated for the B’s lately and is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings between these teams in Boston.
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