NHL Hockey Free Pick: New York Rangers vs Atlanta Thrashers
Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
Team records:
New York: 29-29-9
Atlanta: 28-28-10
Tonight, 7:35 p.m. ET
Sportsbook odds: Rangers -120, Thrashers +100
Friday night’s NHL matchup between the New York Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers is a true battle of the .500 team. Both teams are still fighting for an Eastern Conference playoff spot but are falling farther out of the race. The Rangers were expected to challenge but the Thrashers were supposed to just go away.
The New York Rangers have arguably been the most disappointing team in the NHL this season. The addition of Marion Gaborik was supposed to take this team over the top, but instead it has the Rangers battling to stay above .500 and fighting for respectability. The Rangers have gone 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and are coming off a humiliating 6-3 loss in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
New York is a dismal 1-4 since their return from the Olympic break and their trade acquisitions have done nothing to help the team. Oli Jokinen has been as much of a bust with the Rangers as he was with the Flames and Alex Auld was shelled in his only start in goal for the Rangers thus far. Vinnie Prospal has been OK but that is about all that is going well for the Rangers right now. They are difficult to trust at this point in time and appear to be totally disinterested on the ice. Friday’s matchup, like most others down the stretch, will be hard for Rangers fans to stomach.
The Atlanta Thrashers were expected to fold their tents after they traded Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils but the opposite happened. The team went on a bit of a run and emerged as a possible contender for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Then they went on a four game losing streak and lost touch with the top eight teams in the East.
Despite the current four game losing streak, the Thrashers effort has to be applauded. With the loss of their only elite player, names like Nik Antropov, Rich Peverley and Maxim Afinogenov have assumed the scoring roles and have done so admirably. The Thrashers recently signed, and then called up 48-year-old Chris Chelios to help with the young talent on the team and to also sell a few tickets in Atlanta. He will also help Atlanta improve upon their third worst defence in the NHL. 
Atlanta has lost four straight games and would love to break that streak and leap frog the New York Rangers for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. I think they’ll get it done against a reeling Rangers team that appears to have nothing to play for. The most interesting thing about this game could very well be John Tortarella’s post game interview.
NHL Betting Trends:
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Rangers
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the NY Rangers last 9 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 6 games on the road
NY Rangers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games on the road
NY Rangers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta’s last 9 games when playing NY Rangers
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Pick: Atlanta Thrashers
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