The New York Rangers (19-16-4) and New York Islanders (20-13-4) clash in a Saturday post-holiday tilt in Elmont, New York. The opening puck drop at UBS Arena will be at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+). The opening puck drop at UBS Arena will be at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Rangers vs. Islanders odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Islanders lead 1-0
The Rangers last played Tuesday when they clocked a 7-3 (Over 5.5) triumph at the -146 Washington Capitals. The Blueshirts are 3-1-0 over their last 4 games and 5-1-0 across their last half-dozen games against the Isles.
The Islanders return from the Christmas break after snapping a 3-game losing streak (0-2-1) with a Tuesday win over the -129 New Jersey Devils. Playing at home, the Isles battled back from a 1-0 deficit and got a final-2-minutes game-winner from D Adam Pelech in a 2-1 (Under 5.5) victory.
Rangers at Islanders odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Rangers -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Islanders -115 (bet $115 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-275) | Islanders -1.5 (+220)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -102 | U: -118)Rangers at Islanders projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (16-11-3, 2.55 GAA, .908 SV%) vs. Ilya Sorokin (12-10-2, 2.55 GAA, .910 SV%)
Shesterkin was between the pipes in the Tuesday win over the Caps. He made 29 saves. Shesterkin started the lone previous NYR-NYI meeting this season Nov. 8. He allowed 4 goals in that game, and the Islanders won 5-0.
Sorokin has not played since Dec. 19 when he stopped 27 of 30 pucks in a home loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The 30-year-old got off to a slow start this season, but he registered a .923 SV% in November and has a .928 SV% this month.
Rangers at Islanders picks and predictionsPrediction
Rangers 4, Islanders 3
The Rangers are 5-2-0 across their last 7 road games and have won 3 of their last 4 games on the Island. The Rangers have won 8 of the previous 10 series meetings, scoring 4.20 goals per game along the way.
Shesterkin has logged a sub-.900 SV% in just 1 of his last 6 road starts. His career road percentage is a robust .918.
The layoff for Sorokin is a would-be season-long. He went 6-plus days between games twice last season and allowed 4 goals in his return both times.
Neither club spends an abundance of time in the penalty box, and the 5-on-5 analytics for the Islanders come off as a bit overcooked. The Isles are giving up an awful lot of high-danger attempts for a squad allowing just 2.70 GPG. On recent man advantages, the Rangers have been solid (3-for-13), while the Isles have yielded a 4-for-9 mark over their last four games.
Consider a partial-unit play on the RANGERS (-105).
No interest; PASS.
The last 9 series games have seen the Over go 6-3.
Both clubs have posted below-average shooting percentages and above-average save percentages. Some regression on both sides would spell higher-scoring games. And both have filed higher scoring contests when the rest between games creeps to this level.
The OVER 5.5 (-102) is the leverage side of this one.
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