The Chicago Blackhawks will look to start 2018 in the win column when they visit Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers. The ’Hawks had a rough end to 2017 on a road trip that saw them drop four of five games. It will be an uphill battle to steal a win in the Big Apple as the Rangers are 5-2 SU in their last seven games in their barn and opened as -130 favorites.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the Rangers’ last 7 games.
- Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last six games vs the Rangers.
- Patrick Kane leads Chicago with 38 points this season.
The injury bug couldn’t have hit the Blackhawks at a worse time. Chicago lost winger Artem Anisimov and goaltender Corey Crawford in the same week and both will be on IR for the foreseeable future. And Crawford’s availability was up and down in December, which may have led to Chicago’s downturn recently.
The ’Hawks went 6-7 SU during the month and only averaged 2.54 goals per game, which ranked 21st in that span. The only silver lining if you plan to back the Blackhawks is they’re 4-1 SU in their last five visits to New York.
The Rangers have climbed back into the playoff picture in the East and surprisingly are only six points out of top spot in the Metropolitan Division. New York is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at home and was a beast defensively in December. The Blueshirts only allowed 2.08 goals per game in that span and are coming off an exciting win vs the Sabres at an outdoor game at Citi Field on New Year’s Day. Backing the Rangers tonight may be the smart play in this one.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Chicago Blackhawks were listed as +136 underdogs on the NHL hockey moneyline earlier at Sportsbook. The OVER/UNDER total was set at 6 before betting started earlier on Wednesday at Sportsbook.
OddsShark score prediction models pick a 4.2-1.8 result in favor of the Rangers today. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Rangers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
21-13-5 New York battles the Blackhawks, currently with a 18-14-6 mark. The OVER/UNDER records, important for totals bettors, are 21-17-1 for the Rangers and 16-20-2 for Chicago. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and New York vs Chicago injuries news.
This game puts the Rangers, most recently No. 23 in the OddsShark NHL Power Rankings, up against the Blackhawks, who rate a No. 11 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the New York Rangers' No. 9-ranked offense (3.15 goals per game) against a Chicago Blackhawks defense that ranks No. 9 at 2.79 goals per game allowed. The Rangers power play has clicked at a 19.05% rate while the Blackhawks have a 80.17% success rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Chicago was a 4-3 loser in its last match on the road against the Flames. They lost as +122 underdogs, while the total score of 7 made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors.
The Rangers were a 3-2 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against the Sabres. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got New York at -165 on the moneyline, while the total score (5) was good news for UNDER bettors.
- Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- Chicago is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
- Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing New York
- New York is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New York's last 7 games
- New York is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Chicago home to Vegas, Friday, January 5
New York at Arizona, Saturday, January 6
