Bruins vs Rangers NHL Spread/Handicapping
Battle of Eastern Conference Heavyweights – Winless Rangers Host Bruins Wednesday Night
Two of the Eastern Conference favorites meet at Madison Square Wednesday night with the Boston Bruins looking to remain perfect on the season and the New York Rangers searching for their first win of the season. Wednesday marks the second meeting of the season between the two clubs already – on Saturday the Bruins defeated the Rangers in Boston 3-1.
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Boston Bruins (2-0-0-0) at NY Rangers (0-2-0-0)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Broadcast: NBCSN
Bruins vs. Rangers Betting Lines from TopBet
Boston Bruins +1½ -275 +112 Ov 5 -121
New York Rangers -1½ +230 -123 Un 5 +110
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The New York Rangers will be looking to avoid a three game losing streak when they face off against the Bruins Wednesday. Three games may not seem like a huge deal until you realize that three games is 1/16 of the season without a point in the standings. It may not be panic time yet for the Rangers but rest assured that they will bring their A-Game Wednesday with the hope of not falling into a giant hole early in this abbreviated season.
The Rangers have been underwhelming in all aspects of the game in their two contests this season – they have been outscored 9-3 in the two games and need better efforts on offense, defense and especially in goal – Henrik Lundqvist was actually pulled against Pittsburgh after giving up four goals on 18 shots! A little discipline would help too – the Rangers have been guilty of far too many penalties early in the season.
The Boston Bruins are 2-0 on the season so far but they have been far from a juggernaut squad. After defeating a sloppy Rangers team Saturday, the Bruins were just OK in a shootout win Monday against an average Winnipeg team. Tuukka Rask has been Boston’s best player thus far – a good sign going forward. He has allowed just two goals this season on 48 shots and he has made Boston fans forget about Tim Thomas already. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Defense and goaltending have traditionally been the strength of the Bruins and this year is no different. That said Boston’s offense has some healthy pieces back in the mix. The forwards are deep, they are talented and they are plain scary for the rest of the league – reminiscent of the team that won the Cup only 18 months ago.
Betting Prediction:
A few trends to consider:
• BOS are 7-1 in their last 8 road games.
• Over is 23-9-2 in BOS last 34 road games.
• BOS are 35-17 in their last 52 Wed. games.
• Under is 10-2-9 in NYR last 21 overall.
• Under is 7-2-2 in NYR last 11 Wed. games.
• Under is 10-3-9 in NYR last 22 vs. Northeast.
• BOS are 3-11 in the last 14 meetings in New York.
• Under is 20-8-3 in the last 31 meetings.
The Bruins have had all sort of trouble traditionally at MSG – 3-11 in the last 14 games there. Although Boston has proven to be a terrific road team in the past, you have to think that the talented Rangers are due to get off the schnide. The Rangers are too talented, too prideful and too desperate to be denied in this one.
Although I don’t love the way they’ve played so far this season, I do think that a little urgency will look good on the Rangers Wednesday night.
Pick: NY Rangers -123
