There’s more fancam filler on the MSG jumbotron than actual hockey these days.
The Rangers have been eliminated from postseason contention for a week and you could find more meaning watching Three’s Company reruns than Tuesday’s puck drop here against the Devils.
It’s the third and final meeting between the cross-river rivals both this season and this month. The Devils may have nine points on the Rangers, but they’re circling the same drain at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division with playoff chances pegged at 0.1 percent per Money Puck.
New Jersey won the previous tilts both by a score of 6-3. It is priced as a -120 road favorite over the Rangers at bet365 Sportsbook.
The Rangers kicked off their four-game home stand with a pair of wins over the Blackhawks and the Panthers, both of whom were also the worst teams in their respective divisions. Handicapping games that emulate preseason exhibitions doesn’t leave much to grab onto; the veterans have phoned in the season while AHL call-ups make their impressions.
Rangers vs. Devils prediction, odds
There has been one dominating force in the previous meetings, however: Jack Hughes has notched seven points and 10 shots on goal against this listless iteration of the Rangers.
None of those shots were registered on Rangers star goalie Igor Shesterkin, who will start against the Devils on Tuesday. Despite the desolate state of the Rangers, Shesterkin has managed to manufacture six wins in 10 starts since returning from a lower-body injury after the Olympic break.
He’s not stopping the puck at his usual elite clip (.906 save percentage since then), but goals won’t come gift-wrapped again for Jersey.
The Rangers allow well below the league average of 29.3 shots on goal per game. The Devils match that, ranking among the highest-volume shooting teams in the NHL at 29.5 per game.
Hughes is the engine behind that and he’s only played 52 games this year. The franchise’s points leader in a season has registered an average of 3.7 shots.
The Rangers and their horrid minus-29 goal differential at home are always worth a look to fade. But instead of targeting Hughes’ alluring tag to score multiple points, I’d rather wager on the looks he will get against a team that is struggling to exit their defensive zone cleanly.
Betting on the NHL?
At +132, I see value in Hughes’ price to take six shots — a mark he’s reached in two of his last three games.
It’s at least better value than the premium admission fans are paying at MSG to be enthralled by t-shirt tosses and an awkward dance party.
THE PLAY: Jack Hughes Over 5 Shots on Goal (+132, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.