In their final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks face off at Rogers Arena in a cross-continent showdown. The action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 28, and you can watch the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver (+100) is playing the role of underdog to Vancouver (-120), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
New York is 27-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 63 regular season matches, 33 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Rangers team is 9-20 SU on the road.
New York has converted on 21.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the eighth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Broadway Blueshirts have been called for penalties 3.6 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 3.0 per game over its past five total, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .914 save percentage and 28.3 saves per game, Henrik Lundqvist (23-30-5) has been the top option in goal for New York this year. If it decides to rest him, however, head coach Alain Vigneault may turn to Ondrej Pavelec (5-11-1 record, .910 save percentage, 3.01 goals against average).
Mats Zuccarello and J.T. Miller will both lead the way for the visiting Rangers. Zuccarello (43 points) has tallied 10 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points eight times. Miller has 13 goals and 27 assists to his name, and has notched at least one point in 28 games.
On the other bench, Vancouver is 24-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 36 of its contests have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 11-19 SU at home this year.
The Canucks have converted on just 21.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.8 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver players have been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom has denied 26.2 shots per game as the primary option in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has 17 wins, 29 losses, and five OT losses to his credit and has maintained a .911 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average this year.
The Nucks offense will be led by Brock Boeser (27 goals, 25 assists).
New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- New York is 3-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Vancouver’s last five games.
- Seven of New York’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-6 in those games.
