NHL betting preview (Feb. 5): Bruins vs. Rangers odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Wednesday’s matchup between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.
Bruins vs. Rangers Odds
- Boston Bruins Moneyline: +165
- New York Rangers Moneyline: -200
- Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-140), Rangers -1.5 (+115)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -110, Under -110)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Bruins (32-21 SU, 25-28 ATS, 21-28-4 O/U)
Jeremy Swayman earned his third shutout of the season on Tuesday as the Boston Bruins defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-0 on home ice. The Bruins will now head to New York for a rematch against the Rangers after doubling up on them 6-3 on Saturday in Boston.
Joonas Korpisalo will likely get the start on Wednesday, given that Swayman played the first half of the back-to-back. While Korpisalo has been solid for Boston this season, earning three shutouts of his own, the Bruins are much stronger with Swayman in net. Swayman hasn’t had his best season, but since Nov. 15, he has saved the Bruins 4.51 goals above expected, while Korpisalo has posted a -0.74 mark in that category.
Boston has won two in a row and seven of 11 games since losing six straight between Dec. 31 and Jan. 9. However, over the past month, the Bruins rank 28th in shot attempt percentage and 30th in expected goals percentage at even strength. Offensively, they have been among the league’s top teams since Jan. 5, ranking sixth in goals per 60 minutes, but they also rank among the bottom five in goals against per 60 in all situations.
David Pastrnak has been carrying the team and will look to extend his point streak to 12 games on Wednesday in New York. He recorded three goals and one assist in Saturday’s win over the Rangers, which, surprisingly, was just his fourth multi-goal game of the season.
Pastrnak leads the NHL in goals (17) and points (38) since Dec. 13, but with Charlie McAvoy back in the lineup and Hampus Lindholm nearing a return from injury, he may not have to shoulder as much of the team’s load moving forward.
Handicapping the Rangers (37-17 SU, 30-24 ATS, 25-26-3 O/U)
New York has been off since Sunday, so the Rangers will have a two-day rest advantage in Wednesday’s matchup against the Bruins. Additionally, although Igor Shesterkin allowed five goals on 24 shots in his last outing versus Boston, he gives the Rangers a big edge in the crease.
Through the lens of traditional stats like save percentage, goals-against average, and wins, Shesterkin doesn’t look like he’s had a great season, but according to Evolving Hockey’s expected goals model, he has. Shesterkin ranks third in goals saved above expected behind Connor Hellebuyck and Logan Thompson.
That said, Shesterkin has gone 4-8 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average against the Bruins in his career. Shesterkin has lost five of his last six games versus Boston dating back to April 23, 2022.
Like the Bruins, the Rangers have also ranked among the top-10 offensive teams over the last month, but they’ve been slightly better, grading out as the third-best team in goals per 60 minutes. Moreover, while Boston has been awful defensively, the Rangers have at least been average, ranking 16th in goals against per 60.
However, while New York has done a better job of controlling play recently, it’s not enough for me to consider betting them to win this game as a big moneyline favorite.
Best bet for Bruins vs. Rangers
- Vincent Trocheck Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (+130) at Sports Interaction
Vincent Trocheck has registered three or more shots in 11 of his last 18 games, including four of his last six. The 31-year-old attempted seven shots in Saturday’s loss to the Bruins, finishing with three shots on goal. He doesn’t attempt as many shots as team leader Artemi Panarin, who has 137 shot attempts since Dec. 28, but he’s registered 51 shots on goal, just two fewer than Panarin, despite attempting 45 fewer shots.