Let's get into my Rangers vs. Red Wings prediction and NHL pick.
The Rangers head into the Motor City to take on the Red Wings in an Eastern Conference battle with both teams each coming off a loss.
The Red Wings, led by head coach Todd McClellan, have surprised many to start the season with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, while the Rangers have stumbled out the gate, tied for the worst record in the East.
Rangers vs. Red Wings Odds, Pick
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -225 | 6 -110o / -110u | +105 |
| Red Wings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +185 | 6 -110o / -110u | -125 |
- Rangers vs. Red Wings Spread: Red Wings -1.5 (+185), Rangers +1.5 (-225)
- Rangers vs. Red Wings Over/Under: 6.0 (-110o / -110u)
- Rangers vs. Red Wings Moneyline: Rangers +105, Red Wings -125
Rangers vs. Red Wings Preview
New York Rangers
Away from Madison Square Garden is where the Rangers truly shine, where they hold a 6-1-1 record. But their porous place in the standings is because of their 0-5-1 record at home.
However, given this game being in Detroit, this may play in their favor.
But the Rangers just confuse me. They play at a top-10 rank in both offensive and defensive 5-on-5 play, but the power play is among the worst in the NHL, scoring at a pathetic 11%.
Defenseman Adam Fox leads the team in points, but what is more concerning is that after a week, Taylor Raddysh still leads the team in goals.
I’ve been gravely disappointed with Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, and not only that, the former number-one overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere, has been a massive problem.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin is still keeping this team afloat. Even though New York is tied for last in the Eastern Conference, the play of Shesterkin has been remarkable, with a .915 SV% and a 4.2 GSAx.
Detroit Red Wings
Is this finally the time when the Red Wings get over the hump?
Famous last words.
Regardless, the Red Wings are having a wonderful start to the season, and tonight will be their first game at home after a five-game West Coast road trip, where they went 3-2.
Captain Dylan Larkin is playing like one of the best players in the NHL and ranking in the top-10 in points scored, while Alex DeBrincat has all of a sudden turned into a playmaker rather than a scorer.
At 5-on-5 play, the Red Wings are playing at a top-10 pace offensively over the past week, playing to a 54.46 xGF% and on the defensive end as well with a 2.51 xGA/60.
In net, both John Gibson and Cam Talbot have been splitting starts, and while I think Gibson starts to pull away with more starts, they’ve both played at a relative pace.
Both netminders are posting a sub-.900 SV% with Gibson playing at below-average 2.5 GSAx, with Talbot playing even worse 1.5 GSAx.
Rangers vs. Red Wings Prediction, Pick
This is a very interesting matchup here!
Detroit has one of the best home records in the league, only losing once, with the Rangers being dominant on the road with a 6-1-1 record.
So, which one is the first to crack?
I’m not taking that chance, but I will be tuning in because I’m highly curious about it. My eyes are on the total here, and I think we see a low-scoring duel.
Both teams often find themselves in low-scoring bouts, and in each of their previous five games.
In the Rangers' last five games, the total has averaged 4.6 goals per game. For the Red Wings, the total has averaged 5.4 goals per game.
Even though I’m fairly bearish on Detroit’s goaltending, I’m going to take what the data is telling me and predict that this game either pushes or goes under 6.0 goals.
Pick: Under 6.0
