The Pittsburgh Penguins (34-23-10) travel to take on the New York Rangers (38-19-10) at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Pittsburgh is coming off a high-scoring 6-4 loss against the Canadiens on Tuesday. The Penguins took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring twice on four shots while holding Montreal without a power play goal.
Jake Guentzel led the Penguins with two goals. Tristan Jarry saved only three of seven shots against (.428%) after starting in the loss. New York beat the Capitals 5-3 on Tuesday. Mika Zibanejad was the leading goal scorer for the Rangers, netting twice. Igor Shesterkin only stopped 28 of 31 shots (.903%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Penguins have won both games between the teams this season, including a 3-2 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting on March 12. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby each had two points (0G 2A) to lead Pittsburgh. Barclay Goodrow and Chris Kreider were on the scoresheet for New York. Jarry got the win, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931%).
FACING OFF
Pittsburgh is averaging 3.28 goals per game for the season, 13th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Rangers team that is allowing 2.79 goals a game (9th).
Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.25 times a game on average, 14th in the league, and the Penguins are allowing opponents to score 3.21 goals per game (17th).
Pittsburgh averages more shots/game (34.0) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth. New York’s average of 31.8 attempts ranks 16th. The Rangers’ 23.04% power play percentage ranks ninth in the league, while the Penguins are 13th with a conversion rate of 21.89%. In terms of defending power plays, Pittsburgh has the league’s 14th-ranked PK% at 79.91%, while New York is 17th at 79.17%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 81 points this season, Crosby is the top skater for the Penguins. He is among the league leaders with 52 assists (10th) and has added 29 goals of his own. In the net, Jarry (20-7-6) is Pittsburgh’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.95 GAA and a .910% save percentage. Artemi Panarin and Zibanejad lead the Rangers in scoring with 74 and 70 points, respectively.
Panarin has 20 goals and 54 assists (8th) in 67 games, while Zibanejad has 34 goals and 36 assists. Shesterkin (30-11-7) is the top goalie for New York with a goals against average of 2.64. He has a save percentage of .910%.
HOME AND AWAY
Pittsburgh is 15-13-5 on the road this season. New York is 18-11-4 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
NY Rangers (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
