PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* TOTAL DOMINATION >> Won Last NHL TOTAL!
(NHL) NY Rangers vs. NY Islanders,
Total: 6.50 | -100.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 6.50 | -100.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The NHL's Metropolitan Division is congested and after losing eight of their last 11 games, the 27-25-5 NY Rangers find themselves in the basement of the league's most competitive division, but just one point behind the 27-25-6 NY Islanders. The Rangers have lost five in a row to their crosstown rivals and hope to reverse that trend tonight when they visit Barclays Center for the first time this season. The Islanders have each of the first two meetings between the two rivals this season (both at MSG), 4-3 in a shootout loss on Oct. 19, as well as a 7-2 shellacking on Jan. 13.
NY Rangers: Chris Kreider returned to practice on Wednesday after being sidelined since Dec. 27 with a blood clot that required surgery to repair. "It really puts things in perspective," the 26-year-old Kreider said after skating with his teammates in a non-contact practice jersey. "I don't think I took (playing hockey) for granted ever, but it definitely makes you grateful for everything you have." Fellow forward Pavel Buchnevich also skated in a non-contact practice sweater on Wednesday as he attempts to work his way back from a concussion. Despite the Rangers' poor recent record, their special teams have been solid. They have recorded a power-play goal in seven of the last 11 games and have thwarted 22 of their last 25 short-handed opportunities over their last eight contests.
NY Islanders: Captain John Tavares recorded his 600th career point by jamming home a loose puck on the power play in the first period of a 4-1 setback versus the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The 27-year-old, who has a team co-leading 29 goals (matching Anders Lee) and club-best 63 points. Fellow Josh Bailey (61 points) notched his team-leading 47th assist against Columbus and also had one in the first meeting with the Rangers. Rookie sensation Mathew Barzal had a five-point performance - all assists - in a 7-6 overtime win over Detroit on Friday and has 59 points on the season. Goalie Jaroslav Halak was in net for both previous encounters versus the Rangers and sports a 16-7-0 mark with two shutouts against them.
The pick: Halak is expected to battle the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, who is 30-19-7 in 58 appearances against the Islanders. The Islanders and Rangers have both lost seven of their last 10 games to fall into the bottom two spots in the eight-team Metropolitan Division, though the Islanders (27-25-6) have picked up two points via overtime losses in that span while the Rangers (27-25-5) have suffered all seven losses in regulation. However, despite the extended swoons, the Islanders and Rangers entered Wednesday just three and four points, respectively, behind the Carolina Hurricanes in the race for the second wild card in the East. However, both teams need to turn things around quickly in order to make their final scheduled clash of the season (in the Islanders' home finale on April 5) consequential in the playoff chase. A playoff-like atmosphere means the Under is a 10* play.
NY Rangers: Chris Kreider returned to practice on Wednesday after being sidelined since Dec. 27 with a blood clot that required surgery to repair. "It really puts things in perspective," the 26-year-old Kreider said after skating with his teammates in a non-contact practice jersey. "I don't think I took (playing hockey) for granted ever, but it definitely makes you grateful for everything you have." Fellow forward Pavel Buchnevich also skated in a non-contact practice sweater on Wednesday as he attempts to work his way back from a concussion. Despite the Rangers' poor recent record, their special teams have been solid. They have recorded a power-play goal in seven of the last 11 games and have thwarted 22 of their last 25 short-handed opportunities over their last eight contests.
NY Islanders: Captain John Tavares recorded his 600th career point by jamming home a loose puck on the power play in the first period of a 4-1 setback versus the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The 27-year-old, who has a team co-leading 29 goals (matching Anders Lee) and club-best 63 points. Fellow Josh Bailey (61 points) notched his team-leading 47th assist against Columbus and also had one in the first meeting with the Rangers. Rookie sensation Mathew Barzal had a five-point performance - all assists - in a 7-6 overtime win over Detroit on Friday and has 59 points on the season. Goalie Jaroslav Halak was in net for both previous encounters versus the Rangers and sports a 16-7-0 mark with two shutouts against them.
The pick: Halak is expected to battle the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, who is 30-19-7 in 58 appearances against the Islanders. The Islanders and Rangers have both lost seven of their last 10 games to fall into the bottom two spots in the eight-team Metropolitan Division, though the Islanders (27-25-6) have picked up two points via overtime losses in that span while the Rangers (27-25-5) have suffered all seven losses in regulation. However, despite the extended swoons, the Islanders and Rangers entered Wednesday just three and four points, respectively, behind the Carolina Hurricanes in the race for the second wild card in the East. However, both teams need to turn things around quickly in order to make their final scheduled clash of the season (in the Islanders' home finale on April 5) consequential in the playoff chase. A playoff-like atmosphere means the Under is a 10* play.
