The New York Rangers have their backs against the wall on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins Friday in Game 6 of their 1st-round Eastern Conference playoff series. The Pens lead the series 3-2. Puck drop from PPG Paints Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Rangers vs. Penguins Game 6 odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
We projected the Rangers to force a Game 6 Wednesday, and they delivered on all our picks as they won 5-3. They actually went down 2-0 before turning it on late in the second period. The Rangers outscored Pittsburgh 5-1 in the last 25 minutes of the game. LW Alexis Lafreniere doubled his point total for the series with a goal and an assist.
C Sidney Crosby has been ruled out Friday after he left Game 5 with 7 minutes to go in the second period with an upper-body injury. He didn’t take part in the morning skate, but G Tristan Jarry did. Jarry hasn’t played in the series (right foot injury) and is out Friday, but could return if it reaches Game 7. LW Jake Guentzel, who has 7 goals and an assist in the series, will have to put the Pens on his back if they want to avoid Game 7.
Rangers at Penguins odds and lines
- Money line: Rangers -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Penguins +102 (bet $100 to win $102)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+185) | Penguins +1.5 (-260)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -120)
Rangers at Penguins projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (36-13-4, 2.07 GAA, .935 SV%, 6 SO – regular season) vs. Louis Domingue (1-1-0, 2.02 GAA, .952 SV% – regular season)
According to MoneyPuck.com, Shesterkin led the NHL with 34.1 goals saved above expected in what might lead to a Vezina Trophy. He is 7th in the playoffs with 2.1. So, he hasn’t been as good, but he hasn’t been terrible either. He stopped 29 of 32 in Game 5, and he has a .905 SV% in the series. He was terrible in Pittsburgh, though, allowing 10 goals on 45 shots and hitting the showers early in both games.
Domingue allowed 4 goals on 33 shots in Game 5, and he has allowed 4 goals in 3 of the 5 games. He has actually underperformed as far as MoneyPuck’s metrics go as he’s near the bottom of the playoffs with -3.4 goals saved above expected.
Money line
Take the RANGERS (-125) quickly because the news about Crosby should continue to drive New York’s price up. If you get in late, look to the puck line instead.
Against the spread
According to StatMuse, the Pens were 5-4-4 without Crosby this season. So while this is bad news for Pittsburgh, it’s not time to cash out Penguins bets to win the series. The key component here is how the Rangers responded to pressure in Game 5. They could have packed it in and called it a season after they got down 2-0 halfway through the game, but they stormed back.
Domingue is starting to crack in goal so look for the Rangers and LW Chris Kreider, who has been scoreless in 2 straight games, to take advantage LEAN RANGERS -1.5 (+185).
Over/Under
The Over has hit in all 5 games of the series. I have a hunch that changes in this one. Shesterkin hasn’t been himself, and he’ll see an opening to hone in and shut this team down to get it back to MSG. I’d probably lean Over if it were 5.5, but since it has steamed up to 6.5, we’ll LEAN UNDER 6.5 (-120).