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The New York Rangers (7-5-3) and Nashville Predators (5-8-1) meet Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+).
The Rangers scored a season-high 8 goals in a victory Thursday in Detroit. The Blueshirts topped the Red Wings 8-2 in that one, and it has scored 6 or more goals on 3 different occasions this season.
The Predators were dropped 5-3 by the Colorado Avalanche in Denver Thursday, and Nashville has been outscored 10-4 in its past 2 games. The Preds have conceded 3 or more goals in 9 of the past 12 games overall.
Rangers at Predators odds
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Predators +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+195) | Predators +1.5 (-250)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -103 | U: -117)
Rangers at Predators projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (7-2-2, 2.53 GAA, .909 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Juuse Saros (3-6-1, 3.46 GAA, .892 SV%)
Shesterkin, the defending Vezina Trophy winner has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 8 of his 11 starts this season. He is 2-2-0 with a 2.48 GAA and .901 SV% with 1 shutout in 4 November starts.
Shesterkin has posted a 4-0-2 record with a 2.81 GAA and .907 SV% in 6 games against the Western Conference this season.
Saros has had a nightmare start to the season, and it has gotten even worse since flipping the calendar from October to November. He is 1-2-0 with a 5.56 GAA and .851 SV% in 3 starts in November, allowing 13 goals on just 87 shots.
Rangers at Predators picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Predators 2
Moneyline
The RANGERS (-120) are a decent play on the road in the Music City against the struggling Predators (+100).
New York has won 7 of its past 10 games against Western Conference foes, while going 5-2 in the past 7 games inside the Central Division.
Nashville is struggling mightily, and it has won just 2 of its past 10 games at home, 3 of the past 12 games overall and none of the previous 6 outings against Eastern Conference opponents.
Puck line/Against the spread
The RANGERS -1.5 (+190) are a solid play for the chance to nearly double up.
New York has struggled to light the lamp, going for just 2.8 goals per game (GPG), ranking 25th in the NHL. Again, though, it did go for 8 goals last time out in Detroit, and that could be a sign the scoring drought is over.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5(-117) is the lean here, although play it lightly.
Until New York shows signs of scoring goals on a regular basis, the lean is to the Under in its games.
Nashville has also had difficulty scoring goals, going for 2.6 GPG to rank 30th in the NHL, and the power play is hitting at just a 15.7% clip, 29th in the NHL.