The 2021-22 NHL season continues Tuesday, March 29, with this Metropolitan Division showdown at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so we have prepared the best Rangers vs. Penguins betting pick and odds.
New York and Pittsburgh will be playing the third of their four-game series. These teams have split the first two contests, with the home team winning both games, so it is not surprising that Pittsburgh opens as the favorite on DraftKings NY Sportsbook at -165. Pittsburgh is 7-3-0 in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
Rangers Stay Hot with Win over Sabres
The New York Rangers (42-19-5; 33-33 ATS) defeated the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday in overtime, 5-4. That moved to New York to 6-4-0 in their last 10 games and they are 20-13-2 on the road. The Rangers are 3-1-0 in their last four games on the road, scoring 18 goals while giving up 12. New York is in third in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind Pittsburgh for second place.
K’Andre Miller scored the game-winning goal 2:02 into overtime, his sixth of the season. Frank Vatrano scored the first two goals of the game for the Rangers and Andrew Copp had two assists. Copp has been on a tear of late, recording seven assists and eight points over his last five games. In his three games since being acquired by the Rangers, he has a goal and four assists in three games.
New York has been thriving because of their spectacular goaltender, third in the NHL at 2.58 goals allowed per game. They have been nearly as invincible on the road, posting a 2.80 GAA and have been great within the division at 2.44 goals allowed per contest. Igor Shesterkin is making a strong case as the top goaltender this season, going 31-9-3 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.
Pittsburgh Crushes Red Wings
The Pittsburgh Penguins (40-17-10; 33-34 ATS) pounded the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, 11-2. That gave Pittsburgh four straight victories at home, as they have outscored opponents 25-7 in their last four contests at the PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh is 6-3-1 in their last 10 contests and are 19-9-5 at home this season. The Penguins trail the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division by just three points.
Pittsburgh scored six unanswered goals to start the contest in the victory over Detroit. Evgeni Malkin recorded a hat trick and added an assist for good measure. Five other players had three points in the contest, including Sidney Crosby who had a goal and two assists. That now gives Crosby 10 points over his last five contests and he leads the club with 69 points in 55 games. Malkin has 16 goals and 16 assists in 30 contests.
The Penguins are also a team fueled by stellar goaltending, fourth in the NHL in goals allowed per game at 2.58. They have not been strong at home this season, with a 2.79 GAA. Tristan Jarry has been great, going 33-13-6 with a 2.31 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
Trends:
New York Rangers:
- None
Pittsburgh Penguins:
- 35-17 in their last 52 games.
- 5-2 in their last seven games when playing on one day’s rest.
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Pick
This should be an incredible contest. You have two teams that are battling for supremacy over one another in this division. If Carolina should earn the top spot, the winner of this contest could very well have home ice advantage in Round 1, so this will have a very tense feeling to it.
While both teams can make a case for winning this contest, the home team has dominated, winning eight of the last 10 meetings between these teams. In fact, Pittsburgh has defeated the Rangers at home in five straight meetings. No reason to go against that here.
Pick: Take Pittsburgh Penguins
The Total:
Goaltending is what these teams are all about. They are No. 3 and No. 4 in the NHL in terms of goals allowed per game and have two All-Star netminders who are playing spectacularly. Pittsburgh has seen six or more goals scored in five straight games at home, but that has primarily been because of their own scoring. The Penguins are shutting down opponents, seven goals in their last four home games, so it might be a tough day for New York offensively.
The Rangers are no slouch either. They have allowed eight goals in their last three road games, and seven of those came in one contest. Look for a total around five.
Pick: Go under 6.0
