New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Pick & Prediction 10/9/24
Looking to win big? The Rangers and Penguins face off at 7:30 ET on TNT. The Penguins are hosting the game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. In this division matchup, the Rangers are favored by -1.5 against the Penguins. The over/under for the game is 6 goals.
NEW YORK RANGERS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5
This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena at 7:30 ET on Wednesday, October 9th.
WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:
- With a 1.5 goal advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Rangers to secure a 4-3 victory.
- Take the Rangers on the moneyline
- On the puck line, we like Penguins (+1.5)
Do the Rangers Have What it Takes on the Road?
The Rangers finished last season with a 55-23-4 record, which put them at the top of the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division. In the Eastern Conference, they went 34-16, and they were 18-8 in divisional games. At home, they were 30-11, while on the road, they went 25-12-4.
As favorites, the Rangers went 44-19-2, but they struggled against the puck line, going 26-39. As underdogs, they finished 4-4-2 straight-up and 6-11 against the puck line. Their over/under record for the season was 44-35-3.
Last season, the Rangers had a strong offense, finishing 7th in the NHL with an average of 3.4 goals per game. They also ranked 8th in assists. When shorthanded, they were 6th in the league for goals scored, and their power play was particularly effective, ranking 4th.
In terms of giveaways, the Rangers were 12th in the league. They averaged 31.4 shots on goal per game, placing them 12th in the NHL.
Last season, the New York Rangers were one of the top defensive teams in the NHL, allowing just 2.6 goals per game, which ranked 5th in the league. They also limited opponents to 29.3 shots on goal per game, placing them 5th in that category as well. The Rangers recorded six shutouts, the 3rd highest total in the NHL.
In terms of takeaways, New York ranked 15th, and they were 14th in defensive hits. Despite those middle-of-the-pack rankings, the Rangers were able to finish as a top-5 defensive unit.
Does Pittsburgh Stand a Chance at Home?
The Rangers finished last season 5th in the Metropolitan Division with a 13-13 record in divisional play. Overall, they went 38-32-12, placing them 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 23-27 mark against other Eastern teams. At home, New York was 23-14-4, while they went 15-18-8 on the road.
As favorites, the Rangers went 25-16-7, but their puck line record was 19-29. Twelve of their wins were by one goal, while 26 were by multiple goals. As underdogs, they finished 16-16-5 straight-up and 7-27 against the puck line. Their over/under record was 36-40-6, with an average total line of 6.3 goals per game.
Last season, the Penguins finished 16th in the NHL, averaging 3.1 goals per game. Despite ranking 6th in shots on goal, they had issues with giveaways, finishing 20th in the league.
In terms of special teams, Pittsburgh was 9th in shorthanded goals but 19th in power play goals.
Last season, the Penguins ranked 15th in the NHL for goals allowed, giving up 2.9 goals per game. They were effective at generating takeaways, finishing 4th in the league, and they also recorded 7 shutouts, which was the 2nd most in the NHL.
In terms of shots allowed, Pittsburgh was 15th, giving up 30.2 shots on goal per game. They ranked 26th in defensive hits.