It is an original six matchup on Wednesday night on NBCSN, as the Chicago Blackhawks visit the New York Rangers. Chicago has been a perennial power in the NHL for the past decade, but this year’s team looks like they could be in serious danger of missing the playoffs. On the other side, the Rangers are battling for third place in the Metropolitan Division. These teams met earlier this season in Chicago and it was the Blackhawks winning by a score of 6-3.
Don't miss the ice action from Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on NBCSN.
We'll have NHL odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NHL Wednesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The situation favors the Blackhawks a little bit for this game on Wednesday night. Chicago has not played since Sunday so they will have had two days off, while the Rangers are coming off the Winter Classic on Monday. Chicago comes into this game at 18-14-6 but they have lost four of their last five games. This is actually the last game of a six-game road trip for Chicago. The Blackhawks are 8-13 on the road, with nine games going over the total, 10 going under, with two pushes. Chicago is scoring 2.9 goals per game and giving up 2.8 per contest.
Chicago is not at full strength, as they are without top goaltender Corey Crawford and center Artem Anisimov. The loss of Anisimov can be handled, but Chicago does not have a replacement for Crawford, as he is one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. Chicago has been going with Anton Forsberg in goal with Crawford out. Forsberg is 1-8 record and a 3.33 goals against average. The backup to Forsbeg is Jeff Glass and he is 1-1 with a 3.46 GAA.
The Rangers are coming off the Winter Classic on Monday against the Sabres. That game was listed as a road game for New York by the NHL, but in reality it was pretty much a home game, as it was played at Citi Field. The Rangers are 15-9 at home, with 13 games going over and 10 going under. They are scoring 3.1 goals per game and giving up 2.7 per contest.
The Rangers have been playing close games nearly every night. Before Monday’s Winter Classic, seven of their previous ten games had been one-goal contests. Five of the ten were decided in overtime or a shootout.
Special Teams
The Blackhawks have not been very good on special teams this season, as they are a very poor 29th in the NHL on the power play at just 15% and they are nothing special in penalty killing at 81%, which is just 15th in the league. The Rangers are just 18th in the league on the power play at about 19% but they are 3rd in penalty killing at just over 84%.
Key Stat
These teams have split their last ten meetings, with six of the ten going under the total. Chicago has had some recent success in New York, winning each of the last three games. Three of the last four in New York have gone under the total.
Free NHL Picks
What do you put more stock in for this contest, the recent form or the situation? The Rangers are playing better than Chicago but New York could have a letdown after playing in Monday’s Winter Classic. The key factor for me in this game is the goaltenders. I have no confidence at all in Forsberg, while both New York goaltenders, Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec have played well. Lundqvist has a goals against average of 2.58, while Pavelec has a GAA of 2.61. I will lay the small price and take the Rangers on Wednesday night.
NHL Odds: Rangers 3, Blackhawks 1
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