Ny Rangers vs Ny Islanders Picks and Predictions November 3rd 2024

The Islanders and Rangers are set to face off at 1:00 ET on NHLN. The Rangers will host the game at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. This Metropolitan division matchup has an over/under of 6 goals, and the Rangers are favored by -1.5 at home vs. the Islanders.

New York vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Islanders at Rangers
• Where: Madison Square Garden New York
• Date: Sunday, November 3rd
• Betting Odds NYR -196 | NYI +164 O/U 6

The Islanders Can Win If…

The Islanders moved closer to .500 with a 4-3 win over the Sabres, bringing their record to 4-5-2. As the underdogs on the puck line, New York not only won, but also covered the total of 5.5 goals, with the game’s 7 goals going well over that mark.

After falling behind early, the Islanders responded with four different players finding the net. The Sabres scored first at 9:03 in the opening period, but Bo Horvat equalized for New York just 40 seconds later.

Bo Horvat netted his 4th goal of the season, while Jean-Gabriel Pageau added his 2nd in the Islanders’ 4-3 win over Buffalo. Maxim Tsyplakov, who scored his 3rd goal, also picked up his 5th assist on Kyle Palmieri’s power-play goal, his 5th of the year. The Islanders took 36 shots on goal and recorded 12 giveaways.

After Horvat’s opening goal, the Islanders added two more in the second period. Pageau’s goal came with 11:52 left in the third. Anders Lee contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to 2.

Defensively, the Islanders allowed the first goal of the game and two more in the third period, but they held on for a 4-3 victory over the Sabres. Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves with a 91.4% save percentage, while the defense recorded 3 takeaways and 18 hits.

• Through their last three regular season contests, New York has a record of 1-2. In these contests, the team went just 1-2 against the spread, while going 1-2 on the over-under.
• The Islanders have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. Their record vs the puck line sits at 3-7 in these matchups, while posting a 5-5 over-under mark.

The Rangers Can Win If…

With a 2-1 win over the Senators, the Rangers moved to 7-2-1 this season. New York, favored on the puck line, didn’t cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 3 goals fell well short of that mark.

Both of the Rangers’ goals came from different players. Artemi Panarin scored first, and Alexis Lafrenière added another in the third period. The Senators responded with 7:32 left, but New York held on for the win.

Artemi Panarin netted his 7th goal of the season, while Alexis Lafrenière followed with his 5th, which came on a power play at 17:04 in the 3rd period. Lafrenière also picked up his 5th assist on Panarin’s goal. Filip Chytil added his 4th assist, and Reilly Smith earned his 5th.

The Rangers took 18 shots on goal but struggled with giveaways, totaling 23. They scored in the 1st period at 16:57 and again in the 3rd period.

On the defensive side, Igor Shesterkin stopped 40 shots with a 97.6% save percentage, helping the Rangers to a 2-1 win. The defense also contributed 3 takeaways, 28 hits, and 23 blocks.

• New York has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. Against the spread, they have gone 0-3 and logged an over-under record of 1-2 in these games.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, New York has a record of 7-3. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 5-5 to go along with an over-under mark of 4-5-1.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Islanders to secure a victory over the Rangers on the road. With the moneyline currently set at +164, I’m locking in my bet on the Islanders straight-up.

Our projections have the Islanders pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Islanders, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

The New York Islanders finally found a way to end their losing streak on Friday, but their victory came at a steep cost. As they prepare to face their fierce rivals, the New York Rangers, at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, they’ll be without several key players, presenting a daunting challenge against a well-rounded Rangers team backstopped by the exceptional Igor Shesterkin.

Islanders’ Injury Woes

The Islanders’ 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday brought some relief, but it also left them severely short-handed. They played without first-line center Mathew Barzal, who suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. During the game against Buffalo, two defensemen—Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly—went down with injuries in rapid succession. Pelech was hit in the face by a puck, while Reilly had a hard fall after being checked by Jordan Greenway.

On Saturday, the Islanders announced that Barzal and Pelech had been placed on injured reserve. Barzal, who landed on long-term IR, will be sidelined for a minimum of 10 games and 24 days, and both are expected to miss four to six weeks. Reilly is listed as day-to-day.

These injuries add to the Islanders’ growing list of absences, which already included first-liner Anthony Duclair, who has been out since mid-October with a leg injury. To compensate, defensemen Samuel Bolduc and Grant Hutton were called up from the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders.

Despite these setbacks, head coach Patrick Roy expressed confidence in his team’s resilience. “It really (stinks) losing guys—don’t get me wrong here—but at the same time, this is the reality of today,” Roy said. “We need to find ways to win games, and you know what? I do trust this room. This is a strong room, this is a room (in which) guys care. It’s a room that has a lot of leadership.”

Islanders’ Offensive Struggles

Offense has been an ongoing issue for the Islanders. Their 26 goals on the season were the third-fewest in the NHL heading into Saturday, and the loss of key forwards like Barzal and Duclair only exacerbates the problem. The pressure will fall on veteran scorers like Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, who need to step up in the absence of their injured teammates.

Rangers Lean on Shesterkin

The Rangers come into Sunday’s matchup with their own set of concerns, particularly on offense. They started the season with a scoring blitz, netting 31 goals in their first six games. However, they’ve cooled off significantly, scoring just eight times in their last four outings and splitting those contests 2-2.

Offensive inefficiency has been paired with defensive lapses, as the Rangers have been outshot 148-95 over their past four games. Their most recent performance, a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, was salvaged largely by Shesterkin’s heroics. The star goaltender made 41 saves, marking the second consecutive game he has had to face over 40 shots. Just days earlier, he stopped 43 in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.

“It’s nice to have a goaltender who can make those saves, but that’s not what we’re looking for,” said Rangers coach Peter Laviolette. “It’s great that he is on point, but we still have to do a better job.”

The Rangers could get a boost on Sunday with the expected season debut of winger Jimmy Vesey. Vesey, who was activated from long-term IR on Saturday, missed the end of last season’s playoff run with an upper-body injury and has been dealing with a lower-body injury from training camp. His return could provide some needed depth and energy to the lineup.

Keys to the Game

Islanders’ Depth Under Pressure

With so many core players injured, the Islanders will need contributions from up and down the lineup. Their defense, in particular, must tighten up in the absence of stalwarts like Pelech, and their forward group needs to find scoring from secondary sources. Players like Samuel Bolduc and Grant Hutton will be thrust into critical roles and must adapt quickly.

Shesterkin’s Dominance

The Rangers have leaned heavily on Shesterkin, and he has delivered in spectacular fashion. However, they can’t continue to rely on him bailing them out. They need a more disciplined defensive effort and better puck possession to reduce the shot barrage he’s facing. If the Rangers can find a way to manage the puck better and control the tempo, they will have a significant edge.

Special Teams Battle

Given both teams’ struggles at even strength, special teams could be a deciding factor. The Rangers will need to take advantage of any power-play opportunities, while the Islanders must avoid costly penalties and try to capitalize when they get a man advantage. With both clubs looking for a spark, special teams execution will be crucial.

What to Watch

Rangers’ Offensive Adjustments

With Jimmy Vesey’s return, keep an eye on how the Rangers’ forward lines adjust. Vesey’s versatility could provide a spark, and players like Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider will need to find ways to reignite the scoring touch. Panarin has been a driving force for the Rangers but needs support from his linemates.

Islanders’ Defensive Pairings

With Pelech and Reilly sidelined, the new defensive pairings will face a stern test against a Rangers offense that, despite recent struggles, boasts high-end talent. Bolduc and Hutton will be under the microscope in this high-stakes rivalry game. Their ability to keep up with the Rangers’ speed and skill will be critical.

Goalie Duel

Shesterkin’s performance will be pivotal, but the Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin or Semyon Varlamov—whichever goalie gets the nod—will also need to be at their best to give the injury-riddled Islanders a fighting chance. The matchup between two elite goaltenders will be fascinating to watch and could dictate the outcome of the game.

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Conclusion

The Rangers are looking to capitalize on the Islanders’ misfortunes and reestablish their offensive prowess, while the Islanders will be trying to rally behind their “next man up” mentality. The intense rivalry between these teams should add even more drama to an already intriguing matchup, especially with both sides desperate for a win to keep pace in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division.