Two teams who are desperate to win meet at Madison Square Garden NHL action on Monday evening. The St. Louis Blues, who have lost three straight and are five points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, are skidding 1-4-1 and 1-4-1 in their last six. +140 underdog against the New York Rangers. They haven’t won at home since November 13.
Can the bookies match the Rangers at -170? FanDuel Monday night?
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Rangers vs Blues Prediction (7 p.m. ET, MSG Network)
For most of last season, the Rangers were a team that used to overplay. The Blueshirts are on the opposite end of the spectrum this season. Without a goalie playing at a generational level, without an elite power play and several players putting up career numbers, the Rangers have slipped into mediocrity.
New York is 11-10-5 with an even 5-for-5 goal differential this season, though his statistical portfolio suggests things should be better. The Rangers are fifth in goal percentage this season, eighth in expected goal percentage and 12th in high risk potential.
But in the last 10 games, those numbers have also started to decline. The Rangers are 14th in shot attempts, 21st in expected goals percentage and 23rd in high-danger probability.
And it’s not like the Rangers have played a tough schedule. Arizona, Chicago, Ottawa (twice), Seattle, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Edmonton, New Jersey, and San Jose are not killer streaks.
Rangers will play another opponent on Monday as the Blues have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the league. St. Louis started the season 3-0, has lost eight straight, won seven and now comes to Manhattan with one win in its last six.
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St. Louis’ 5-on-5 numbers don’t paint a stronger picture either. The Blue Jays rank in the bottom 10th in the NHL in shot attempt rate, expected field goal percentage and high-danger chance percentage.
But the Blues aren’t a team that needs to bend the ice to dominate. St. Louis has a deep group of goal-scoring forwards who — at least on paper — should be clinical with the chances they create. That hasn’t been the case this season, but that makes the Blues dangerous underdogs.
Neither the Blues nor the Rangers are in good form right now, but only one of those teams is a -170 favorite on Monday night. It’s more of a bet against the Rangers than the Blues, but there’s no question about who has the value at MSG.
Choosing Blues and Rangers
Blues +140 (FanDuel)