NHL Game 1 Expert Picks For New York At Ottawa

Getting into the NHL playoffs is one thing, but securing home ice, even if only for a couple of rounds, is quite another. Winning on the road in the postseason is tough, which is why that home ice advantage is such a big deal. This is especially true if one team has a particularly good home record against the team that they will be facing in the playoffs. That is certainly true for the Ottawa Senators, who will be facing the New York Rangers in the second round, with Game 1 in this series set for Thursday night. Ottawa have been very good at home against their opponents, but we all know that anything can happen in the postseason, which is why we often need to throw out those regular season records. That said, if Ottawa can come out in the opening two games and maintain that home ice dominance, they are going to put the Rangers in a very tough spot heading back to the Big Apple. Find out more about the updated NHL betting picks here.

Here’s A Closer Look At The NHL Game 1 Expert Picks For Rangers At Senators

When: Thursday, April 27 at 7 PM ESTWhere: Canadian Tire Centre, OttawaTV: CNBC, CBC, TVASLive Stream: NHL.TVNHL Odds: New York Rangers -1½ (+270)  

Why bet on the New York Rangers

The New York Rangers got past the Montreal Canadiens in 6 games in the opening round, and they did so by winning a pair of games on the road. They also proved that they are a gritty team, as they were able to bounce back from a 2-1 series deficit, winning the final 3 games of the series. The Rangers leaned heavily on Henrik Lundqvist in that series, and they played the sort of defensive hockey that usually allows teams to make a deep run in the postseason. The Rangers played once in Ottawa during the regular season going down 4-3 in that one. They also lost the series 2-1, dropping one of their home games to Ottawa.

Why bet on the Ottawa Senators

The Senators finished second in the Atlantic Division this season, and they did so largely because of their impressive 22-11-8 home record. Oddly enough, the Senators were able to get past the Bruins in 6 games despite losing 2 of the 3 games that they played in their own building. Ottawa have beaten the Rangers in back to back outings at the Canadian Tire Centre, and are 3-2 against them overall in their last 5 meetings. They will be looking to Bobby Ryan to continue his goal scoring heroics in the second round, as they are going to need a solid offensive outing in this series if they are going to break down what has been a very solid Rangers D.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Overall, I like the New York Rangers to emerge victorious in this series, and I do believe that they will come away from Ottawa with that ever so valuable split that was said, I think they will lose Game 1 of the series, albeit in a close one.

New York Rangers 2 Ottawa Senators 3