The Minnesota Wild (2-3-1) and New York Rangers (3-3-1) are lined up for a Monday battle at Madison Square Garden. The opening puck drop will be at 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Wild vs. Rangers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; New York won 2-0 in 2024-25
Minnesota is continuing a road trip that has seen the club drop 3-of-3 games so far. The most recent of those games was Saturday when the Wild were tabbed as +102 underdogs in a contest they lost 2-1 (Under 6) in overtime at the Philadelphia Flyers. Minnesota has been outscored 12-4 on its current 5-game trip.
New York was also involved in a 1-goal game Saturday, with the +111 Rangers winning 4-3 (Over 6) at the Montreal Canadiens. The win snapped a 3-game Rangers losing streak (0-2-1).
Wild at Rangers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:41 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Wild +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Rangers -135 (bet $135 to win $100)Puck line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Wild +1.5 (-220) | Rangers -1.5 (+180)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Wild at Rangers projected goalies
Filip Gustavsson (1-3-0, 3.56 GAA, .888 SV%) vs. Igor Shesterkin (2-2-1, 1.00 GAA, .962 SV%)
Gustavsson played Friday and coughed up 5 goals in a loss to the Washington Capitals. He opened his season with a 26-save shutout, but has logged a shaky .859 SV% across 3 games since.
Shesterkin last played on Thursday, stopping 22-of-24 pucks in a 2-1 overtime loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran netminder owns a career .929 SV% in October.
Wild at Rangers picks and predictionsPrediction
Rangers 4, Wild 2
New York is 5-1 over the last 6 series meetings.
Minnesota is playing its third game in 4 days. The last time they were in the last game of that 3-in-4 situation, the Wild lost 5-2 at the Dallas Stars (Tuesday). The 2 goals Minnesota scored that night were on the power play, and extra-man goals are just about all the Wild offense has to show for itself so far. Through 6 games, Minnesota has scored 10 power-play goals and just 6 even-strength goals.
In 2 meetings against the Rangers last season, Minnesota tallied a combined 6 goals (the Wild lost in 2 overtime games). Half of those 6 netfinders were PP goals.
This fall, the Wild have thus far been a bottom-third squad when it comes to generating 5-on-5 scoring chances.
The Rangers have been more dangerous on offense, generating good chances and plenty of shots from around the slot. They have yet to convert at a near-average level on high-danger shots, and that’s a big reason for the club averaging just 2.14 goals per game.
New York’s down games have come against good defensive clubs. Minnesota’s big-output games have come against poor defensive clubs.
Look for more to be in the tank for New York which in this matchup has a rest advantage and is coming off a nice win over Montreal. The Rangers have played a tough slate so far, and they likely carry a hot goaltender into this contest.
BET NEW YORK (-135).
Lots of close games in recent Wild-Rangers meetings. PASS.
The Over is 4-2 across the last 6 Minnesota-New York games.
Minnesota and New York have subpar shooting percentages, and a bit of regression would help both offenses. Mix in a Wild power play which has a league-best 38.5% success rate through 6 games.
The last time Minnesota was closing out a 3-in-4 situation, the Wild allowed 5 goals.
TAKE THE OVER 5.5 (-115).
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