The NHL is providing us with a ten-game slate on Thursday, March 2, and here you can check out the best Senators vs. Rangers betting pick and odds.
Ottawa is looking for the fourth win in a row when they visit New York at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers are -185 moneyline favorites on BetMGM NY, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. These conference rivals will meet for the third time this season; the series is tied at 1-1.
Senators beat the Red Wings in a back-to-back set
The Ottawa Senators (30-26-4-0, 34-26 ATS) are on a three-game winning streak at the moment; they returned home from a three-game road trip which they concluded with a win over Montreal after suffering a couple of defeats. Back in Ottawa, the Senators played a back-to-back set against the Detroit Red Wings and won both games, scoring six goals in each; 6-2 and 6-1. Ottawa will now spend six of the next seven games on the road. They moved up to 11th place in the Eastern Conference with 64 points, 13 behind the Rangers.
The Senators trailed 1-0 early against the Red Wings at home, but then scored six unanswered goals to celebrate a comfortable victory. The hosts scored four of them in the opening period and allowed just 17 shots to Detroit. Tim Stutzle led the team with three points and Austin Watson bagged a pair of goals. This year, Tim Stutzle (G 28, A 35) and Brady Tkachuk (G 26, A 37) are Ottawa’s top offensive producers with 63 points each, while Claude Giroux contributes 60 points (G 25, A 35).
Cam Talbot (13-14-1) is a probable goalie to start against the Rangers on Thursday. The 35-year-old is surrendering 2.87 goals per game this season with a .905 SV% and one shutout.
G Anton Forsberg (knee) and C Josh Norris (shoulder) are out indefinitely and will not play on Thursday in New York.
Rangers defeated the Kings in NYC
The New York Rangers (34-17-7-2, 30-30 ATS) were in an excellent run of seven wins but then suffered four consecutive losses, three of which came on the road. Luckily, the Rangers stopped the bleeding with a 5-2 home victory over the Los Angeles Kings. They will travel to Philly to take on the Flyers in the opening game of a back-to-back set on Wednesday, after which the Rangers will return to New York to welcome Ottawa. Then, they will play the next four games away from home.
The Rangers got to a 3-0 lead early in the second period against the Kings, and although the visitors responded with a couple of goals, New York sealed the deal through Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. New York needed only 21 shots to score five against Los Angeles. Vincent Trocheck scored a pair and led the team with three points. When it comes to points this season, Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers with 67 (G 19, A 48), followed by Mika Zibanejad with 64 (G 31, A 33) and Adam Fox with 56 points (G 10, A 46).
Jaroslav Halak (8-7-2) is expected to start at the goal against Ottawa as Igor Shesterkin is a confirmed starter on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The 37-year-old is allowing 2.72 goals per game this year with a .902 SV% and no shutouts.
D K’Andre Miller (suspension) is out, while D Ryan Lindgren (upper body) is questionable. The Rangers acquired forward Patrick Kane in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he will likely miss this game against the Senators.
Trends:
Ottawa:
10-4 in the last 14 overall
5-2 in the last seven vs. Metropolitan Division rivals
6-2 in the last eight in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation
New York:
1-4 in the last five overall
1-4 in the last five vs. Atlantic Division opponents
Ottawa Senators vs. New York Rangers Pick
The Rangers are playing very well at home lately; they won six of their previous seven games at MSG. However, they will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set, and Ottawa is in good form at the moment, so I believe the Senators will display a strong showing on Thursday. After all, they already edged the Rangers in New York this season, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they beat them again. Still, I am backing them to cover a puck line and not lose by more than a goal.
Pick: Take the Senators at +1.5 Puck Line (-156)
The Total
Ottawa scored 17 goals in the last three games, while the Rangers’ defense has been quite leaky of late as they allowed at least four goals in five of the previous seven games. The Rangers still have a top-10 defense in the NHL that concedes 2.77 goals per game, but I think the Sens will score a minimum of three against Jaroslav Halak, who allowed 3+ in three of his last five starts. Over is 8-3 in the Senators’ last 11 overall; Over is 8-3 in the Rangers’ previous 11 overall, while Over is 4-1 in New York’s last five home games.
Pick: Go Over 6.5 goals (-110)
