We have only two games in the NHL scheduled for Wednesday, February 8, so make sure to check out the best Canucks vs. Rangers betting pick and odds.
New York is searching for the third straight win when they welcome Vancouver at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers are -223 moneyline favorites on FanDuel NY, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. These inter-conference rivals will meet for the first time this year.
Canucks fell short of the Devils in OT
The Vancouver Canucks (20-26-3-1, 25-25 ATS) opened their four-game road trip in the east with a 5-4 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Canucks lost 12 of the last 16 games and dropped to the 12th place in the Western Conference with 44 points, 24 behind the conference leaders Dallas Stars. Vancouver will meet the Islanders a day after facing the Rangers and will conclude the road trip with a clash against the Detroit Red Wings. They will return home for a three-game stay after this trip.
The Canucks took an early 1-0 lead in New Jersey and managed to tie the game to 4-4 after the hosts scored four straight goals to make it 4-1. Still, the Devils managed to score in OT to get a win. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Garland, and Luke Schenn led the team with two points each. So far this season, Elias Pettersson is the Canucks’ top offensive producer with 59 points (G 21, A 38). J.T. Miller (G 18, A 27) and Quinn Hughes (G 5, A 40) have 45 apiece, while Andrei Kuzmenko contributed 44 points (G 22, A 22).
Spencer Martin (11-13-1) is likely going to start at the goal against the Rangers on Wednesday. The 27-year-old is allowing 3.94 goals per game this year with a .875 SV% and no shutouts.
LW Tanner Pearson (hand), G Thatcher Demko (lower body), D Tucker Poolman (upper body), LW Ilya Mikheyev (knee), and RW Will Lockwood (concussion) are out indefinitely.
Rangers edged the Flames in OT
The New York Rangers (28-14-6-2, 24-26 ATS) opened their four-game home stand with a pair of victories against the Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames. While the win over the Knights was a relatively easy one, the Rangers had more trouble with the Flames as they edged them 5-4 in overtime. The Rangers stayed in the 6th position in the Eastern Conference with 64 points, 19 behind the best team in the NHL – the Boston Bruins.
Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad scored a pair of goals in an eventful 4-4 game against the Flames in regulation. In fact, Zibanejad forced overtime with seven minutes to go and then Alexis Lafreniere gave the Rangers precious two points. Zibanejad was the first star of this duel with three points. When it comes to points this year, Zibanejad (G 24, A 28) and Artemi Panarin (G 12, A 40) lead the Rangers with 52 points apiece. Adam Fox is the team’s third star with 49 points (G 10, A 39).
Igor Shesterkin (21-8-7) is expected to take his place between the sticks against the Canucks on Wednesday. The 27-year-old is surrendering 2.46 goals per contest this season along with a .918 SV% and one shutout.
RW Julien Gauthier (upper body) is questionable to face the Canucks on Wednesday.
Trends:
Vancouver:
4-12 in the last 16 overall
1-8 in the last nine road games
3-9 in the last 12 vs. Metropolitan Division rivals
6-20 in the last 26 vs. Eastern Conference opponents
New York:
17-7 in the last 24 overall
10-3 in the last 13 home games
8-0 in the last eight vs. Western Conference rivals
Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Rangers Pick
Vancouver actually has a better offense that is scoring 3.32 goals per game opposite New York’s 3.20 gpg. However, the biggest difference is in their respective defenses. The Rangers have the fourth-best D in the NHL that allows 2.62 gpg, while the Canucks have the second-worst defense that concedes 3.94 gpg. Vancouver allowed 3+ goals in ten of the last 12 games, and even though the Rangers are not a high-scoring tea, the fact that they scored 4+ in three of their previous four is enough for me to back them to get an easy win here.
Pick: Take the Rangers at -1.5 Puck Line (+108)
The Total
I usually go with Under when the Rangers play, but on this occasion, I am going with a high-scoring affair because the Canucks’ defense is quite leaky and Spencer Martin is not playing well recently. He allowed 5.26 goals per game in January, conceding 4+ goals in five of the seven games he appeared in. Over is 5-2-1 in the last eight H2H meetings in New York; Over is 15-5-1 in the Canucks’ previous 21 vs. Metropolitan Division rivals, while Over is 4-1 in the Rangers’ last five when their opponent allows five goals or more in their previous game.
Pick: Go Over 6.5 goals (-110)
