NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (Senators vs. Rangers)
There's only one game on Monday's NHL schedule, but it is a meaningful contest in the Eastern Conference. The Senators (36-24-9) enter this conference clash with the Rangers (28-33-9) sitting only four points behind the Islanders for the final Wild Card spot. The Sens have two games in hand on the Isles, making tonight's game with the Blueshirts critical in their chase for the postseason.
I've got you covered from a betting perspective for tonight's Senators vs. Rangers game. Below, I'll touch on the odds before diving into my favorite NHL picks & predictions for the standalone matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
Monday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Ottawa Senators (-192) vs. New York Rangers (+160) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
The betting market on this game is spot-on. There's no reason why the Senators shouldn't be nearly 2-to-1 favorites to take down the struggling Rangers. Ottawa has playoff ambitions, while New York traded away several of its key players en route to a 16th-place spot in the Eastern Conference. As for the total, it's at 5.5 goals, and will likely spill over to six before puck drop in the Big Apple tonight.
How should we bet this game when the oddsmakers appear to have it priced correctly? I am going to lay the -130 vig and take the over 5.5 goals. A 4-2 Ottawa victory is well within the realm of possibilities.
The Senators have been humming offensively, ranking sixth in goals per 60 minutes (3.74) over the last 10 games. They're also a respectable 10th in shooting rate (11.94%) and second in high-danger shots on goal (46) during the 10-game stretch. Ottawa draws a New York side that's entering on zero days of rest, following Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to Winnipeg.
As for New York, they've managed two or more goals in 12 of their last 13 games. Specifically, over the last 10 outings, the Blueshirts are fourth in goals per 60 minutes (3.77) and first in shooting rate (16.59%). The Senators still aren't impenetrable defensively, which becomes apparent when you simply look at their 32nd-ranked team save percentage of .872.
Factor in that both of these penalty-killing units are 25th or worse, and all of the variables start to point to a higher-scoring game. That has been the case between the squads in recent history, as the over is 6-3 in the last nine meetings. In the last three head-to-head matchups, Ottawa outscored New York 4.67 to 3.67. Let's play the over.
Bet: Over 5.5 Goals (-130)