Nashville Predators vs New York Rangers Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

Nashville Predators vs New York Rangers December 17th 2024

Looking to win big? The Rangers and Predators face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Predators are hosting the game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6 goals, and the Predators are favored by -1.5 vs. the Rangers.

New York vs. Nashville Key Information

The Rangers moved above .500 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders, bringing their record to 15-14-1. New York covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.

Four different players scored for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. The Rangers took a 2-0 lead before the Islanders cut it to 3-2, but New York pulled away with two more goals in the third period.

Artemi Panarin led the way for the Rangers with two goals, including his 9th of the season on an empty net and his 8th on a power play. Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, coming shorthanded in the first period. Vincent Trocheck added his 4th goal, while Adam Edstrom netted his first of the season.

The Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and picked up 8 assists, with Mika Zibanejad assisting on three of the five goals. New York had 14 giveaways in the game.

Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage, helping the Rangers secure a 5-2 win over the Islanders. New York’s defense added 10 takeaways and 19 hits. After allowing a late goal in the 2nd period, they shut out the Islanders in the 3rd.

Nashville improved to 8-17-6 with a 5-2 win over the Avalanche. The Predators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 7 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second period, Nashville responded with five straight goals. Five different players contributed to the scoring for the Predators.

Nashville’s offense put up 5 goals on 25 shots in their 5-2 win over Colorado. Two of those goals came on power plays, with Roman Josi netting his first goal of the season on one of them. The Predators added two empty-netters, including Filip Forsberg’s 7th goal of the year and Gustav Nyquist’s 4th.

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Each of Nashville’s five goals came from different players, with Steven Stamkos scoring his 2nd goal of the season. The Predators were held scoreless in the first period before getting on the board with a power-play goal from Stamkos.

Defensively, the Predators allowed the first goal at 17:06 in the 2nd period and another at 17:43 in the 3rd, but they held the Avalanche to just two goals overall. Juuse Saros made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage, while Nashville’s defense added 4 takeaways and 23 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Predators to defeat the Rangers while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -113, I’m placing a wager on the Predators to win outright.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Rangers to cover. Even if the Predators manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Rangers should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Predators, Rangers Look to Halt Skids in Critical Matchup

Two teams desperate for a turnaround meet Tuesday night in Nashville, as the struggling Predators host the equally reeling New York Rangers. Both squads are searching for answers amid scoring woes and mounting frustrations, with each hoping this matchup can serve as a reset button.

Nashville: Searching for Silver Linings

The Predators (8-14-4) enter this game tied for the fewest points (22) in the NHL, stuck in a 1-6-3 stretch. Despite the brutal season, Nashville continues to find glimmers of hope in their performances, particularly in moments where they’ve shown resilience.

In their 5-2 loss to Colorado on Saturday, the Predators fell into an early 3-0 hole before Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista scored in the third period to make things interesting. Two empty-net goals sealed the Avalanche win, but Stamkos believes Nashville is trending in the right direction.

“In a year that it’s been tough to find some of those moral victories, (Saturday) was certainly one of those,” Stamkos said. “You just stick with it.”

Stamkos has been one of the few bright spots, registering three points in his last three games. However, Nashville will need more consistency, especially at home, where they’ve gone 0-1-2 in their last three contests.

Goalie Juuse Saros has struggled during this slump, posting a 3.40 goals-against average over his current 0-5-3 stretch. Backup Justus Annunen provided a spark with 35 saves in Nashville’s recent 4-1 win over Dallas, and it remains to be seen who will get the start against the Rangers.

The Predators also await word on star defenseman and captain Roman Josi, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury.

New York: Frustration Mounting as Slide Continues

After a blazing 12-4-1 start to the season, the Rangers (12-14-4) have come crashing back to earth, losing 10 of their last 13 games. Their offense, once potent, has sputtered, with the team scoring just seven goals in their last four games.

In their 3-2 loss to St. Louis on Sunday, New York fell behind 3-0 before clawing back with third-period goals from Brett Berard and Will Cuylle. Despite the late push, the Rangers’ frustration was palpable.

“I don’t even know how to describe the feeling right now,” defenseman Adam Fox said. “It’s definitely not good.”

Adding to the Rangers’ woes is the uncertain status of leading scorer Artemi Panarin (36 points), who missed Sunday’s game with an upper-body injury. Forward Kaapo Kakko could also miss time after being scratched for performance reasons, having tallied just one point in his last six games.

The Rangers will likely turn to Igor Shesterkin (3.08 GAA) in net after Jonathan Quick started against St. Louis. Shesterkin, a former Vezina Trophy winner, will need to find his form to help New York stop the bleeding.

Key Matchup: Stamkos vs. Rangers’ Defense

Steven Stamkos has a history of success against New York, racking up 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 42 career games against the Rangers. His leadership and recent scoring form will be critical for Nashville as they look to exploit a Rangers team struggling defensively.

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For New York, the focus will be on slowing down Stamkos and creating opportunities of their own. Mika Zibanejad, who has just one point in his last six road games, needs to step up alongside Fox and Cuylle to spark the Rangers’ attack.

Goaltending: A Decisive Factor

Both teams are looking for stability in net. For Nashville, the decision between Saros and Annunen could dictate their fortunes. Saros remains the team’s No. 1 option despite his slump, but Annunen’s strong recent performance offers hope.

Meanwhile, the Rangers will rely on Shesterkin to provide the elite-level goaltending they’ve come to expect, especially with Panarin’s status uncertain.

What’s at Stake

For Nashville, this game is an opportunity to stop the bleeding at home and earn a much-needed win to build confidence. A strong effort could signal a turning point for a team that’s had little go right this season.

For New York, this matchup is about breaking a frustrating streak and rediscovering their early-season form. With key players underperforming and injuries mounting, the Rangers need a complete team effort to get back on track.

The Bottom Line

Both the Predators and Rangers enter this game in desperate need of a win. Nashville will lean on Stamkos and their home crowd to provide a spark, while New York will hope for a bounce-back performance from Shesterkin and leadership from veterans like Zibanejad and Fox.

With two teams fighting to right the ship, expect a hard-fought battle as both look to turn frustration into momentum.