The New York Rangers (26-23-4) welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins (22-24-9) to Madison Square Garden on Friday night in what promises to be a pivotal Metropolitan Division matchup with playoff implications.
The Rangers enter the contest riding a two-game winning streak and sitting just outside the Eastern Conference wild card spot, while the Penguins have managed just four wins in their last ten games and find themselves near the bottom of the division.
New York's recent defensive improvement has been notable, allowing only four goals in their last two games, with goaltender Igor Shesterkin posting a solid .906 save percentage on the season.
The Penguins' offensive struggles continue to be a concern, averaging just 2.87 goals per game and managing only 11 goals in their last six contests, despite the consistent production from Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell.
The contrast between the teams' current trajectories sets up an intriguing battle, with the Rangers' improving defense facing off against a Penguins squad desperate to find their scoring touch.
As these longtime rivals prepare to face off at Madison Square Garden, both teams recognize the crucial importance of securing two points in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race.
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: who will win?
For tonight's New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins matchup, our predictive model gives the Rangers a 57.33% chance of defeating the Penguins.
New York Rangers: 57.33% win probability
- Better offensive efficiency (159 goals scored in 53 games vs Penguins' 159 in 55)
- Stronger defensive record (162 goals against vs Penguins' 196)
- Higher points percentage (56 points in 53 games vs Penguins' 53 in 55)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 42.67% win probability
- Poor defensive record (196 goals against, among worst in Eastern Conference)
- Negative goal differential (-37, significantly worse than Rangers' -3)
- Lower win percentage (22 wins in 55 games vs Rangers' 26 in 53)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins odds
| New York Rangers | Pittsburgh Penguins | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -190 (via BetMGM Sportsbook) | +172 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The New York Rangers have won 26 out of 53 matches this season.
- 2The Pittsburgh Penguins have won 22 out of 55 matches this season.
- 3With 56 points, the New York Rangers holds the 12th position in the league standings.
- 4Pittsburgh Penguins's 53 points place them 14th in the rankings.
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins form
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins head to head
New York Rangers
83%
Pittsburgh Penguins
17%
Dec 7, 2024
New York Rangers
4 : 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Oct 9, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
0 : 6
New York Rangers
Apr 1, 2024
New York Rangers
2 : 5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 16, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
4 : 7
New York Rangers
Nov 23, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins
0 : 1
New York Rangers
Mar 19, 2023
New York Rangers
6 : 0
Pittsburgh Penguins
