The New York Rangers (57-23-2-5) will be back on the ice for the first time in six days when they face the Washington Capitals (49-28-8-4) in Game 1 of the Metropolitan Division Finals.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Even though the Blueshirts are -180 favorites to win this series, they’re only -170 favorites to win Game 1. Expect to see relatively low totals in this series because of the two goalies, and that's certainly the case in Game 1 with a total of 5, teetering on the brink of dropping to 4.5.
GOALIE REPORT
The ledger is only going to say that Braden Holtby went 3-3 against the Islanders, but his 1.63 GAA suggests that he was the only reason that the Caps won that opening round series. He allowed just 10 goals in the six games, and his .943 save percentage was tremendous.
The problem he'll run into in this series though, is that Henrik Lundqvist is the keeper on the other side. Lundqvist was downright special against the Penguins, winning four of the five games with ease, including the last two of which were in overtime. All four wins were by 2-1 margins, proving just how important the Swede was to the Rangers.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I think when we're playing quick and moving the puck fast, it's going to make it a little more difficult on them to get on us." – Rangers defenseman Marc Staal on the subject of the physical nature of the Capitals
SITUATIONAL BETTING
We didn't see a lot of the New York power play against Pittsburgh, and perhaps the team is better off for it. The Rangers ranked No. 21 in the regular season on the man advantage, and there were times that it really felt like they were better served just turning down penalties and not letting the Penguins gain the momentum from their kill.
PROP TALK
The one thing we know is coming in this series is a lot of hits. Washington is going to try to slow things down a ton, and that means limiting the Rangers in shot attempts. After the Islanders averaged just 28.4 shots per game in the seven games last round, we have a tough time believing that Game 1 is going to start with a flurry of shots on Holtby. Play his under in saves.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
If there's a game that Washington is going to get early in this series, this is the one, and it had better happen early. Once the Rangers shake off the cobwebs from their six-day hiatus, we expect them to definitely be the better of these two teams.
Though it might not translate into a lot of shots, or even a lot of goals, having Lundqvist there at the back is just invaluable. Expect to see Washington's confidence squashed right out of the gates in the Big Apple, as New York opens up the 1-0 series lead with a gritty victory and puck-line cover.
New York 3, Washington 1
The NHL odds for this Thursday contest will be released first by BookMaker. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Game 1 of this series will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
