NHL: Vegas Golden Knights vs New York Rangers Match-Up Odds
With Hill back, Vegas receives a massive boost, Ranges lead Metro
The resilient Vegas Golden Knights (28-14-6, 62 points) head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers (29-15-3, 61 points) who have a four-point lead on the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. VGK remains 7 points behind the Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Division. New York is ranked sixth in our latest power ratings and is among the Stanley Cup contenders while the defending champs are tenth. Oddsmakers have made the Blue Shirts a -150 home favorite with a total of 6 (Under -120). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT and can be seen on ESPN. With both teams securely in the NHL playoff picture, this is the clear marquee game of the Friday card.
Knights vs Rangers 
Date, time:
Streaming: Live Sports Stream
Vegas Get Much Needed Win Behind Cup Hero
The Golden Knights have been treading water for much of the season while veterans wait to find their way back in the line-up. There isn’t help coming for at least three weeks, so this will be the Knights lineup until mid-February when William Karlsson and Shea Theodore are scheduled back.
Star forward Jack Eichel isn’t expected to put on a Vegas sweater until late next month. In total, Vegas has even players out who were key contributors to their run last year. However, this all may be a blessing in disguise, something we’ll talk about in later stories. Four players are out indefinitely, which can mean a very long time in the land of chivalry.
One name to check off the list is goaltender Adin Hill who made 40 saves in his return to the line-up in the Knights 3-2 win over the New York Islanders as a road dog. It was Hill’s first start since December 17th. The Vegas organizational depth was on display when Sheldon Rempal scored his first NHL goal to give Vegas a 2-1 lead in the second, and the Knights killed off three Islanders power plays late to earn the two points.
Tonight’s task will be more difficult, but Vegas is back in the Stanley Cup discussion with Hill back in the lineup, giving Bruce Cassidy the luxury of leaning on two top goaltenders, Hill and Logan Thompson. We continue our Knights vs Rangers matchup odds preview by focusing on New York.
Rangers Can’t Lean On Goaltending
The New York Rangers have turned to Igor Shesterkin to bail them out on more occasions than Peter Laviolette would like this season, but unlike years past, Shesterkin hasn’t always been able to cover up their low slot mistakes or turnovers in the defensive zone. He often talks about mistakes off the rush that are momentum changers because they lead to high-danger chances for their opposition.
These small mistakes have led to the Rangers less than stellar play in their last 21 games, compiling a record of 9-9-3 with a goals-against-average of 3.05 in that span. They are not the worst in the league by far, but on the year, they’re ranked eight with a GAA of 2.83, so far below what they’ve done this year, and that GAA in that 21-game stretch would have them at 16th in the league, far from what a Stanley Cup contender needs to produce.
The Rangers have a comfortable lead in their division on the back of 18-4-1 starts, so no one takes notice of their mediocre ways. Still, against the scrappy Knights, the Rangers need to not take this match-up lightly because you can bet that Vegas will be out to send a message to one of the best in the East.
Energized Knights Make It A Clean Sweep
You can count on the New York market to ballon this number up as we get closer to puck-drop, so before we bet online or in the casino, be patient. This will be one of the more entertaining NHL scores to monitor, and with a four-game card, it will easily be the most wagered-on game on the card, so wait to get the best number available.
We’re going to take the blue-collar Knights and the plus money over the Blue Shirts, who are playing their first game back home after a four-game road trip that saw them lose three games, including a 5-1 beatdown at the hands of the Knights a week ago after Shesterkin gave up four goals on 25 shots. That concludes our Knights vs Rangers matchup odds preview, we wish you all the best with your Friday wagers on the ice.
