Rangers vs Islanders 2020 NHL Game Preview & Betting Odds

Rangers vs Islanders 2020 NHL Game Preview & Betting Odds

Written by on February 25, 2020

Could neither of New York City’s teams be playing postseason hockey this April? The Rangers probably will not be, while the Islanders are in the playoff mix but far from a sure thing. The clubs wrap up their season series on Long Island Tuesday with the Isles as home favorites on the Mybookie NHL odds. Let’s see how the NHL odds will be for the Rangers vs Islanders.

Rangers vs Islanders 2020 NHL Game Preview & Betting Odds

Rangers vs Islanders Season Series

Rangers lead 2-1 and this is their last meeting. The Islanders won the last one, though, 4-2 at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 21. Josh Bailey had a goal and two assists, and Thomas Greiss stopped 40 shots. Anders Lee, Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson also scored, and Mathew Barzal had two assists for the Isles. They led 4-0 before giving up two late goals, and holding off the charging Rangers. Pavel Buchevich and Chris Kreider scored power-play goals 1:47 apart late in the third period for the Alexandar Georgiev, who came in 4-1-0 in five games against the Islanders, finished with 14 saves. The Rangers were without All-Star forward Artemi Panarin, who sat out with an upper body injury.

Why Bet on NY Rangers?

The Blueshirts won their third in a row and seventh in the past eight on Saturday, 3-2 over San Jose. Jesper Fast picked up a pair of goals. Fast ended up with a plus-2 rating and a team-high six shots on goal with a blocked shot and a hit in 16:11 of ice time across 22 shifts. He has three goals in the past two outings, and this was his first two-goal game since Dec. 29, 2018 in Nashville.

Artemi Panarin posted a pair of assists. Panarin ended up with a plus-2 rating and two shots on goal in 19:06 of ice time across 22 shifts. He has racked up four goals with 12 points and a plus-11 rating during his current nine-game point streak. Panarin had two goals and a season-high five points with a plus-4 rating Jan. 13 in his first meeting this season with the Islanders. Ryan Strome also had two assists. He has registered four goals with 11 points and a plus-10 rating during the past eight games. He has two assists and a plus-2 rating in the first three meetings with the Isles.

The team signed Chris Kreider to a seven-year contract on Monday. Kreider was a big name going into the trade deadline, but he will be staying with the Rangers. He has 24 goals and 45 points in 60 games this season. Kreider (illness) missed practice on Monday.

The team traded Brady Skjei to the Carolina Hurricanes for a first-round draft pick. Skjei has eight goals and 23 points in 60 games this season.

Alexandar Georgiev will be in goal on Tuesday against the Islanders. Georgiev has a 2-1-0 record versus the Islanders this season. In 28 games this season, he has a mark of 14-12-1 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Goals: 3.33
  • Shots: 31.11
  • PP/PK Percentage: 22.96
Defense
  • Goals: 3.08
  • Shots: 34.25
  • PP/PK Percentage: 20.29

Why Bet on NY Islanders?

The Islanders also come off a game vs. San Jose, beating the Sharks 4-1 on Sunday. Anders Lee scored two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist. The 29-year old winger scored the Islanders’ first two goals, at the time, giving them 1-0 and 2-1 leads. The captain then drew the primary helper on Josh Bailey’s empty-net goal and finished the night with a plus-2 rating, four shots on goal and two hits. Lee has amassed 19 goals and 38 points through 61 games this season.

Devon Toews registered a goal and an assist. Toews also ended with a plus-2 rating, two shots on goal, a blocked shot and a hit in 19:47 of ice time across 24 shifts. Toews had been without a point in his past six games.  Brock Nelson registered a pair of assists.

Nelson is enjoying a very nice month of February, posting two goals and 11 points in 12 games, and the point total is a season best for a month.

Semyon Varlamov allowed just one goal on 30 shots. Varlamov has won back-to-back starts against the lowly Red Wings and Sharks by the same 4-1 score, improving to 19-12-4 with a 2.47 goals-against average and .920 save percentage across his 40 appearances.

The Isles made a big trade Monday, landing center Jean-Gabriel Pageau from Ottawa for three draft picks. The Senators will get a first rounder in 2020, a second-round pick in 2020 and a third-round selection in 2022 from the Islanders in the deal. Pageau is having a career year in 2019-20 with 24 goals through 60 games and has agreed to a six-year extension with the team. Winger Cal Clutterbuck (wrist) has been called up from his conditioning stint with Bridgeport of the AHL.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Goals: 2.89
  • Shots: 29.38
  • PP/PK Percentage: 17.48
Defense
  • Goals: 2.69
  • Shots: 31.39
  • PP/PK Percentage: 19.62

Rangers vs Islanders Game Trends

  • Underdog is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
  • Road team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
  • Rangers are 2-7 in the last 9 meetings at Islanders
  • Rangers are 5-14 in the last 19 meetings.
  • Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings at Islanders.

Rangers vs Islanders Expert Prediction

Islanders 3, Rangers 2