.jpg "Rangers-at-Blackhawks-(NBCSN)")
The hottest team in the NHL, the New York Rangers, will visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night in a game that can be seen on NBCSN. The Rangers come into this game having won six straight, and they have surged back into contention in the Eastern Conference, while the Blackhawks are struggling, having lost six of their last ten. The series between the Rangers and Blackhawks has surprisingly seen the road team win the last six meetings.
This war on the ice will go down Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center. The game will be televised 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 Rangers are the consummate Jekyll and Hyde team this season, as they started very poorly, going 1-7 in their first eight games this season, but they have now won six straight to get to 9-9 on the season. Head coach Alain Vigneault has gone with four solid lines in the last six games and the same three defense pairings. Everything is now clicking for New York. And they are doing it without defenseman Brendan Smith who they signed to a four-year $17.4 million dollar deal. Smith has been a healthy scratch in the last five games.
The defense in front of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been solid in the last six games and that has been the difference. “We’d be losing those games at the start [of the season] and everybody was like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ ”Kevin Hayes said to the New York Post. I don’t think we were looping or whatever at the start, but now, everybody’s coming back to the house. We’re all coming back in front and Hank is making the saves.”
New York is 2-3 on the road this season with three of the five games going over the total. The Rangers are scoring 3.3 goals per game and giving up 3.2 per contest.
The Blackhawks are coming off a bad loss to New Jersey on Sunday, as Corey Crawford gave up five goals. Chicago has now lost three of their last four games. Crawford has been the one constant for Chicago this season, as he allowed two goals or less in 9 of his first 13 starts. He gave up five in a 7-5 loss to the Devils on Sunday. "He's played amazing for us," said Patrick Kane. "I don't know if any of the goals are really his fault tonight. Probably just a lot of breakdowns defensively. We can help him out a little bit better."
Chicago is just 4-5 at home this season, with four games going over and five going under. They are scoring 2.9 goals per game and giving up 2.7 per contest.
Special Teams
New York is 3rd on the power play at nearly 26%, while they are 13th in penalty killing at just over 81%. Chicago is just 27th on the power play at 14.3%, while they are 10th in penalty killing at almost 84%.
Key Stat
The teams have split their last six meetings with the road team winning each time. Chicago won 2-1 in New York and the Rangers won 1-0 in Chicago last season. The Rangers have won the last four in Chicago with three of the four going under the total.
Free NHL Picks
Both teams come into this game rested, as the Rangers have not played since Saturday, while the Blackhawks last played on Sunday. I am sure not going against the Rangers as hot as they are and with the trends in this series supporting the road team, but I am a little leery going against Chicago in this spot, as I expect them to bounce back with a really solid effort after Sunday’s collapse against the Devils. I think the better option in this game is to take the game under, as New York is playing better defensively of late and Chicago is going to want to atone for giving Crawford very little help on Sunday. I will go under the total on Wednesday night.
NHL Odds: Rangers 2, Blackhawks 1
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