The 2021-22 NHL season continues Tuesday, April 5, with this Eastern Conference showdown at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, so we have prepared the best Rangers vs. Devils betting pick and odds.
New York and New Jersey will be playing the fourth of their four-game series. The home team has won each of the first three contests between these teams, including the Devils defeating the Rangers on March 22, 7-4, but the Rangers open as the favorite on BetMGM NY at -160. The Rangers are 8-2-0 in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
Rangers Fall to Philly in Shootout
The New York Rangers (44-20-6; 34-36 ATS) lost to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday in a shootout, 4-3. New York fell behind by three goals, but battled back to tie the score before falling in the shootout. The Rangers dropped to 6-3-1 in their last 10 games but had a very successful March, going 11-4-0. New York is in second in the Metropolitan Division, four points behind Carolina for the division lead.
Artemi Penarin continues his spectacular season, recording a goal and an assist in the loss to Philadelphia. He leads the club with 82 points and has eight points over his last five games, including five assists. Chris Kreider leads the club with 46 goals and is fourthwith 65 points.
Defense is what dominates for the Rangers, as they are third in the NHL in goals allowed per game at 2.60. Netminder Igor Shesterkin has been spectacular this season, posting a 2.14 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Shesterkin has allowed three goals or fewer in six of his last seven starts, giving up 17 total goals in that span.
Devils Fall at Home to Islanders
The New Jersey Devils (24-39-6; 33-36 ATS) fell to the New York Islanders on Sunday at home, 4-3. It has been a tough start to this four-game homestand for the Devils, who are 0-1-1 through the first two contests, but New Jersey was spectacular at home in March, going 5-1-0. The Devils are 16-15-4 at the Prudential Center this season. The Devils are in a bit of a slump of late, going 2-7-1 and are eliminated from playoff contention, 30 points behind Washington for the final playoff spot.
New Jersey also found themselves trailing by three goals before losing to the Islanders. Dawson Mercer had two assists in the game and now has 40 points. Jack Hughes, who is second on the club in scoring 56 points, will be out for this contest.
New Jersey has struggled to keep opponents out of their net this season, 30th in the NHL in goals allowed at 3.68. Both Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier are out, so look for Nico Daws to get the start. Daws is 8-10-0 with a 3.33 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. He has allowed four goals or more in three of his last four starts.
Trends:
New York Rangers:
- 5-1 in their last six games on the road.
- 8-2-0 in the last 10 games against the Devils.
New Jersey Devils:
- 17-40 in their last 57 games.
- 1-9 in their last 10 situations when playing the third game in four nights.
New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils Pick
Despite the fact that New Jersey defeated New York the last time these teams met at the Prudential Center, the Rangers have dominated the Devils of late, winning eight of the last 10 contests. Adding fuel to the situation is that New Jersey is struggling of late, going 2-7-1. This seems like an ideal situation for New York to dominate this contest.
The Rangers have played very well on the road of late, winning five of their last six games. It is true that the one loss was against the Devils, but that was more of an aberration. New Jersey simply cannot keep opponents out of their net while Shesterkin has been spectacular.
Pick: Take New York Rangers
The Total:
The last time these teams met at the Prudential Center, it took seven goals for New Jersey to win as 11 total goals were scored in the game. No one should expect the Devils to put up those kinds of numbers again, but they could come away with as many as three in this contest. The Rangers have scored 11 total goals in the three contests against New Jersey this season, but I look for five in this game.
New Jersey has gone over in eight of their last 10 games. New York has gone over in five of their last seven. These teams have gone over in 19 of the last 28 meetings, including 15 of the last 28 in New Jersey.
Pick: Go over 6.0
