The New York Rangers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the fifth time this season and first of a two-game series. The Penguins have won three of four meetings this season including one in overtime and another in a shootout. Three of the four games were decided by one goal.
- Date/Time: March 7, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: PPG Paints Arena
- TV Coverage: NBCS
- Sportsbook Odds: Penguins -133 | O/U 6.5 (Line History)
- Rangers vs Penguins (Matchup Report)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The game opened with the Penguins as favorites at -133 and the line has since moved up into the -140 to -146 range. The total opened at 6.5 and has stayed at that number with the UNDER favored around -120 at most sportsbooks.
New York News & Notes
The New York Rangers have won four of their last five games, scoring six goals in three of those wins, finally picking up some wins after a lackluster start to the season. However, despite the wins, the team’s underlying numbers aren’t great as they were outshot and out-chanced in four of those five games including four in a row.
The team is still awaiting the return of Artemi Panarin who remains on leave after the publication of an article in Russia in which a former coach made accusations about his past. Rangers coach David Quinn said Thursday Panarin is getting close to returning.
Other injuries have popped up for the Rangers as well as top defenseman Jacob Trouba has missed six straight games and will not play Saturday. And starting goalie Igor Shesterkin was injured in Thursday’s game and is listed as out for Sunday. Alexandar Georgiev likely gets the start in his place.
Pittsburgh News & Notes
The Pittsburgh Penguins have alternated winning and losing for each of their last seven games and now sit outside the playoffs in fifth in the East Division. The underlying numbers would indicate that the team has been slipping a bit of late too, as the team’s share of overall scoring chances and high-danger chances at even strength since February 1 is worse than their season average.
The offense has not really been the issue though (the Pens are tied for eighth with 28 5v5 goals since February 1), it has been the defensive side of the ice. Only six teams have given up more high danger chances at even strength than the Penguins in that span.
Goaltending continues to hold the team back as well as both goalies have a save percentage below .900. Starter Tristan Jarry is now 9-7-1 with a .897 and Casey DeSmith is 4-2-0 with a .893 this season.
Betting Pick: OVER 6.5
Both teams are stacked with firepower and have major questions in net. That alone should be a good enough reason to favor the OVER. Add in that the Rangers are on a bit of a hot streak and the OVER is 5-1 in Pittsburgh’s last six games and we like it even more.
- The OVER is 15-4 in the last 19 meetings between these teams.
- Pittsburgh is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games at home.
- New York is 3-6 SU in its last nine games vs. Pittsburgh.
