New York At Ottawa NHL Game 2 Expert Picks

If a team is going to be successful in the NHL playoffs, they generally need to be solid at home, get great goaltending, and find ways to win those close games. The Ottawa Senators have 2 of those 3 boxes checked, with the sole one missing being the home ice dominance. They were able to take care of the Boston Bruins in the opening round despite losing 2 games in their own building. They are getting goaltending, though, and all 5 of their wins in the playoffs have come by a single goal, with 3 coming in OT. The Senators got their second-round series off to a great start, downing the New York Rangers 2-1 on home ice in Game 1, but the job is not yet done. The Rangers know that a win in Game 2 will shift home ice advantage in their favor, so look for them to come out blazing early on. This looks as though it is going to be a closely contested series, and while it’s not really a must win scenario just yet, the Rangers could use a win in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon. Find out more about the latest NHL betting picks here.

Here’s A Closer Look At The Rangers At Senators NHL Game 2 Expert Picks

When: Saturday, April 29 at 3 PM ESTWhere: Canadian Tire Centre, OttawaTV: NBCLive Stream: NHL.TVNHL Odds: New York Rangers -1½ (+270)  

Why bet on the New York Rangers

There is going to be no sense of panic in the Rangers dressing room just yet, as they had to overcome a series deficit in the opening round versus the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers were able to generate some good offensive opportunities in Game 1, firing 35 shots at Craig Anderson in the Ottawa net. That they were only able to muster a single goal via the power play tells you that they need to be a little more clinical in the Senators zone, especially if all the games in the series are going to be as tight as the first one. The Rangers have been solid on defense throughout the playoffs so far, but they need ore from their attacking stars.

Why bet on the Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators continue to find ways to win close games, but you have to wonder if this is a tactic that is eventually going to catch up to them. When you are a team that makes a habit of winning one-goal games, there generally comes a tipping point where things start to go against you. That said, Ottawa probably deserved better in Game 1, as they were constantly buzzing the Rangers net, and finished the game with 43 shots on goal. Given how they have played on the road in these playoffs, a 2-0 series lead could be just what the doctor ordered for this team.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

While the Rangers have not really shown it yet in the postseason, they are a team that can score goals, as they were top 5 in scoring in the regular season. I think they find some form and a way back into this series in Game 2.

New York Rangers 3 Ottawa Senators 2