The New York Rangers are set to play the third game of their West Coast road trip.
This will also be the first game of a back-to-back so it will be interesting to see who they decide to start in goal tonight. I assume Igor Shesterkin will get the nod, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if Gerard Gallant decides to go with Jaroslav Halak.
The Los Angeles Kings have had a rough stretch offensively lately. They have lost their last two games and have scored just six goals over their last three.
The Rangers haven’t necessarily been lighting up the score sheet either and these two teams are known to play low-scoring games when they meet. That's what my NHL picks and predictions are expecting again tonight.
Rangers vs Kings best odds
Rangers vs Kings picks and predictions
The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings met twice last season and both of those games were played very tight defensively.
Both teams fall in the middle of the pack when it comes to goal-scoring, even though they both have some naturally gifted forwards. The Kings are averaging 3.14 goals per game and the Rangers are just a smidge behind them, averaging 2.95 goals each contest.
The Rangers have been the much better team between the two in regards to the defensive end, goaltending especially. Jaroslav Halak is still looking for his first win of the season, but he has been much better than the numbers may show.
He enters this game with a .883 save percentage and a 3.22 goals against average. That being said, if the Rangers decide to start Shesterkin, he has started to find his game from last season. In his last four starts, Shesterkin is boasting a 1.73 GAA with a .944 SV%.
I have a strong feeling that it will be Shesterkin who gets the nod. As a team, the Rangers currently have a 2.76 xGA/60, which means the Kings' offensive struggles will most likely continue in this game, but on the flip side, Los Angeles is skating to a 2.68 xGA/60 so it won’t be very easy for the Rangers forwards either.
Both teams' offenses haven’t been scoring consistently and I think that narrative continues tonight. I like the Under.
My best bet: Under 6 (-115 at BetMGM)
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Rangers vs Kings moneyline analysis
The Rangers are still trying to find a level of consistency in their game and for that reason, I'm not sure what kind of effort we'll see from them tonight.
The Kings have been very strong on home ice this season, sporting a 6-3-0 record in their own barn. Additionally, they've played their last four games on the road so they'll be juiced to get back in front of their home crowd tonight. They always seem to play a strong defensive game when they play against the Rangers.
The Kings are one of the better teams in the NHL at limiting their opponents' chances. They are currently allowing the fourth-fewest chances against per game, surrendering just 9.56... which is a bad sign for the struggling Rangers forwards.
The Rangers have not had much luck in their past few trips to Los Angeles, going winless in the Kings' building dating back to March 2017.
I think Los Angeles will continue their home dominance over the Rangers and snatch a win.
Rangers vs Kings Over/Under analysis
There has certainly been a trend over the past few years of the Rangers and Kings games being very low scoring and with the way both teams are playing right now, I don’t see any reason why tonight's contest should be and different.
The expected goaltending matchup is Igor Shesterkin for the Rangers and Jonathan Quick for the Kings. I already touched on how well Shesterkin has been playing of late, but Quick hasn’t been nearly as good.
He's 6-6-1 on the season, sporting a .892 SV% and a 3.15 GAA. Even if his numbers aren’t all that great, Jonathan Quick is still one of the better goaltenders in the NHL and he will be at his best against the Rangers.
The cause of concern for both teams is their ability to finish. Both teams are underperforming relative to their expected goals, but it is a positive sign that they are continuing to get chances.
The Kings haven’t scored a goal on the man advantage in their last three games and the Rangers' power play hasn’t been as dominant recently either. I think the offensive struggles continue and this stays Under.
Rangers vs Kings betting trend to know
The Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs Kings.
Rangers vs Kings game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Tuesday, November 22, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG, Bally Sports West |
