New York Rangers - New Jersey Devils predictions and free betting tips [03/04/2024]

The New York Rangers will host the New Jersey Devils in a regular NHL championship match.

New York Rangers 

The Rangers have managed to earn 104 points for the season (50-21-4), winning four out of their last five games, including a stunning 8:5 victory over the Arizona Coyotes in their penultimate match. However, they surprisingly lost to the Penguins in their most recent game with a score of 2:5. Russian Artemi Panarin and Canadian Alexis Lafreniere have been making significant contributions to the success of the New York Rangers, which propelled them to the top of the NHL leaderboard playing together most of the season, Panarin already has 44 goals and 64 assists, a record that ranks him third in team history for points scored in a single season, tying him with Mark Messier.

In addition to Panarin and Lafreniere, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad have also been making significant contributions, with 75 and 64 points respectively, including 40 assists from Zibanejad. The teams' primary Russian goalkeeper, Igor Shesterkin, has been performing reliably with 32 wins, a 2.63 dog average, and a 91.3% shot save percentage. The Rangers showcase their strength in attack and defence, scoring an average of 3.43 goals per game, and conceding 2.74, whereas they boast a power play success rate of 26%. This season has been groundbreaking for New York, likely positioning them as a strong contender in the playoffs.

New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are ranked 7th in the Metropolitan Division and a distant 13th in the Eastern Conference. They trail the Washington Capitals by 6 points, having almost lost their chance of securing a place in the Eastern Conference playoffs after a heavy defeat to Pittsburgh. Following a 3:1 lead after the first two periods, they conceded five consecutive goals in the final 20 minutes. Considering their recent losses, including a 2:5 game against Buffalo Sabres, the team seems doubtful about its performance, with a home record of 17-20. The Devils have one game fewer than Washington and trail in points behind Buffalo, Pittsburgh, New York Islanders, and Detroit. The Devils struggle to maintain consistency: their past 10 matches ended with 5 wins and 5 losses.

In recent games, Jack Hughes clocked in 5 goals and 3 assists, while Timo Meier added 5 goals and 5 assists. Goalkeeper Jake Allen has shown a steady performance with stats at 4-4 and a save percentage of 92% since his arrival. The team averages 3.28 goals per game, utilising 22.3% of chances during power plays, which mirrors their offensive potency. However, their defensive numbers need improvement, with 3.39 goals conceded per game, placing their defence 27th in the league.

Head-to-Head Matches

In their last 3 games against New Jersey, New York showcased impeccable performance, winning in November with a score of 5:3 and in February 2024 with a score of 5:1. The Rangers extended their advantage by scoring two goals in the second period of their most recent home game, concluding the match with a 3:1 win with goals from Zibanejad and Trocheck.

Match Forecast: New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils

The Rangers have scored 25 goals in their last six matches. They currently stand as one of the NHL's top teams. The New Jersey Devils faltered in their crucial playoff race match against Pittsburgh, conceding 5 goals in the third period. The Rangers also lost to the Penguins, but need a win to establish a three-point lead over Boston with six regular season matches left. I am betting on a win for Panarin's team.