Expect Plenty of Goals as Rangers Take on Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the New York Rangers for the seventh time this season on Tuesday night in the first game of a two-game series. The Penguins are 5-1 in the first six meetings, including back-to-back wins at the beginning of March in which they outscored the Rangers 9-3.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The game opened with the Rangers as favorites at -112 and the line can now be found in the -115 to -125 range. The total opened at 6 and has stayed at that number with the OVER favored in the -112 to -122 range depending on the sportsbook.

Pittsburgh News & Notes

Despite an incredible number of injuries to some of the team’s best players, the Penguins are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and sit comfortably in third place in the East Division, six points up on fourth-place Boston and nine up on the fifth-place Flyers.

On the injury front, forwards Evgeni Malkin and Kasperi Kapanen are on injured reserve along with defensemen Mark Friedman and Juuso Riikola, while forward Teddy Blueger is out indefinitely. On top of that, starting goalie Tristan Jarry and winger Brandon Tanev are both questionable for Tuesday.

Through all the injuries, Sidney Crosby continues to lead by example. The longtime captain is up to 43 points in 37 games to rank tied for sixth in the league scoring parade. Jake Guentzel isn’t far behind with 38 points in 38 games, including 16 goals to lead the Pens. Kris Letang, third on the team in scoring, is tied for seventh in the NHL in scoring by defensemen.

New York News & Notes

The New York Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and are making a late push for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division. The Rangers are five points back of the Bruins for that final spot but have played two more games.  

Scoring has not been a problem for the Rangers, who are third in the division in goals this season. They also have a +18 goal differential, which is third in the division and the only positive goal differential in the NHL for a team outside the playoffs.

Leading the way lately is center Mika Zibanejad, who has had a massive resurgence in the second half of the season. Zibanejad had just six points through 19 games in January and February but has had 22 points in 18 games through March and early April, including two hat tricks.

The Rangers also seem to have found themselves a quality young goaltender as Igor Shesterkin is 9-8-2 this season with an impressive .925 save percentage.

Betting Pick: OVER 6