Free NHL Picks Today: New York Rangers vs Boston Bruins 11/3/22

Both teams will be out to build on winning runs when the New York Rangers (6-3-2) host the Boston Bruins (9-1-0) at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Boston is coming off a high-scoring 6-5 overtime win over the Penguins on Tuesday, their sixth win in a row. The Bruins committed four penalties in the game, though they held Pittsburgh without a power play goal.

Six players found the net for the Bruins. Hampus Lindholm scored and provided three assists to lead the team in scoring. Linus Ullmark only saved 29 of 34 shots (.852%) in the win.New York won their third straight game, beating the Flyers 1-0 (OT) on Tuesday.

Chris Kreider was the only player to score for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin recorded his zeroth shutout of the season with 19 saves.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Rangers won two of the three games between the teams last season, although the Bruins were 3-1 victors in their final meeting in April. David Pastrnak led Boston with two points (1G 1A). Mika Zibanejad scored New York’s only goal. Ullmark got the win, saving 30 of 31 shots (.967%).

FACING OFF

Boston is averaging 4.40 goals per game so far this season, best in the NHL, and they are taking on a Rangers team that is allowing 2.73 goals a game (7th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 2.91 times a game on average, 21st in the league, and the Bruins are allowing opponents to score 2.60 goals per game (6th).

New York averages more shots/game (36.5) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, though the team’s 8.0% shooting percentage is 31st. With an average of 35.6 attempts, Boston ranks seventh.The Bruins’ 24.32% power play percentage ranks ninth in the league, while the Rangers are 17th with a conversion rate of 21.95%.

Boston has been equally strong at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 94.59%. New York ranks 11th at 81.25%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 18 points this season, second-most in the NHL, Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders in both goals and assists, finding the net seven times (4th) and assisting 11 scores for this teammates (4th).

In the net, Ullmark (6-0-0) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 1.70 GAA, fifth-best in the league, and a .945% save percentage, fourth-best.Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers in scoring with 16 points (3rd in the league).

He has five goals and 11 assists (2nd) in 11 games. Shesterkin (5-0-2) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.55. He has a save percentage of .913%.