The New York Rangers (47-22-13) visit the New Jersey Devils (52-22-8) on Tuesday for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Puck drop from Prudential Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Rangers finished with 107 points to end up 3rd in the Metropolitan Division. New York went 1-1-2 in the final 4 games of the regular season, including a pair of setbacks to non-playoff teams.
These teams met March 30 in Newark, N.J., with the Devils skating away with a 2-1 win. New Jersey won the season series 3-1, but 3 of the games were decided by a single goal, and 2 of the games were unable to be decided in regulation.
The only win for the Rangers in the season series was a 4-3 OT win on Dec. 12 at Madison Square Garden. The Over went 3-1 in the 4 meetings this season.
The Devils closed out the regular season with 4 victories in the final 5 outings and the offense was humming. New Jersey scored 5 or more goals in 5 of the final 7 regular-season outings.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Rangers at Devils Game 1 odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Devils -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-250) | Devils -1.5 (+195)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Rangers at Devils Game 1 projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (37-13-8, 2.48 GAA, .916 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Vitek Vanecek (33-11-4, 2.45 GAA, .911 SV%, 3 SO)
Shesterkin was on the short end of the March 30 loss in Newark, turning aside 29 of the 31 shots he faced. He went 1-2-1 with a 3.23 GAA and .907 SV% in 4 starts against the Devils in the regular season.
Vanecek finished the season strong, winning in his final 3 regular-season outings. While it helped that the Devils scored 19 goals in the 3-game span, he also allowed just 4 goals on 78 shots.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Rangers at Devils Game 1 picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 3, Rangers 2
Moneyline
The DEVILS (-130) are a solid play on home ice in the series opener.
New Jersey won 3 of the 4 regular-season meetings, although that’s now in the rearview mirror. The Devils have won 5 straight games at home and have cashed 13 of the past 16 inside the Metropolitan Division,
The Rangers are 7-3 in their past 10 Conference Quarterfinals games and are 4-0 in their last 4 when playing on 3 or more days of rest. This will be a super close game, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see OT needed.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Rangers +1.5 (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return if you need insurance and don’t want to play them straight up. That’s quite expensive, and not a good long-term betting strategy.
PASS.
Over/Under
The UNDER 6 (-120) is the lean in Game 1.
The Under has cashed at a 7-1-1 clip in the past 9 games on the road for the Rangers and cashed in each of the final 4 games of the regular season. The Under also went 5-1 in their last 6 against winning teams.
While the Over went wild in the final week for the Devils, you can expect Shesterkin and Vanecek to allow very little in this series opener.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]