Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers: Bruins Take on Rangers After Battling

• The Boston Bruins have won six of their last seven games.

• The New York Rangers have won six of their last eight games.

• The Bruins beat the Rangers 5-2 in their first matchup this season.

Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers Odds

Odds Taken from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers Predictions and Picks

Boston Bruins beat New York Rangers 4-3

 Boston Bruins cover 

Over 5.5 goals

Head-to-Head: Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers

Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers Predictions and Picks

The Boston Bruins will face the New York Rangers for the second time this season. Boston won their first battle 5-2. The game was tied at two early in the third period, but the Bruins went on to score three straight goals.

The Bruins are having an excellent season and lead the NHL with 70 points. They have an 11-point lead over the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs and hold a firm lead over the NHL’s top spot. The Rangers, on the other hand, are in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 55 points. A win today would push them closer to the second-place spot, but a loss would push them closer to the first Wild Card spot.

The Bruins have the most well-rounded roster in the NHL and are strong on all fronts. Boston has the best offense in the NHL and the top defense in the league. In addition, their goaltender, Linus Ullmark, is a brick wall in the net and leads the league in wins, save percentage, and goals against average. The Bruins have very few holes and are firing on all cylinders.

The Bruins have some stars in David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. Pastrnak is the more impressive of these two, but Marchand also wreaks havoc on the ice. These players score over 15% of their shots and have at least 26 assists.

Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman make up the Rangers’ goaltending duo. Ullmark gets most of the starts, but Swayman may start this game. Swayman is not nearly as good as Ullmark but can still hold his own. He has a 10-3-3 record and a .912 save percentage.

The Rangers also have a well-rounded roster but are not nearly as strong as the Bruins. Their offense is average, but their defense finds itself in the top six. The Rangers have a solid squad, but their offense sometimes stalls and needs to improve.

The Rangers may be pretty shorthanded coming into this game, but they will still have Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Vincent Trochek. These three players will be instrumental in the Rangers’ success or failure tonight.

Igor Shesterkin starts almost 75% of the Rangers’ games in net. Shesterkin is building off last year’s success and has performed like a top-ten goaltender this season. He will have his hands full tonight but is good enough to make life hard for the Bruins.

The Bruins may be playing their second game in a row, but I would still bet on them. They are incredibly difficult to beat and facing a shorthanded Rangers team. The Rangers may be without Artemi Panarin, Ryan Lindgren, Julien Gauthier, and Chris Krieder. Bet on Boston.

Why Might the Boston Bruins Win?

The Bruins are the underdogs but can only win if they draw penalties and play tough defense.

The Bruins have the third-best power-play unit in the NHL and convert almost 28% of their opportunities. ¼ of their goals have come with a man advantage, so it is safe to say that their power play unit is deadly. If this unit gets on the ice four or more times, the Bruins will be in good shape.

The Rangers may be missing some players, but they will still have Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and others. The Bruins’ defensemen have to make life hard for these players. If they do, the Rangers' scoring will be limited.

Why Might the New York Rangers Win?

The Rangers are the favorites but will only win if they score the first goal and slow down David Pastrnak.

The Rangers have a home-ice advantage, but that does not mean much unless they do something with it. New York needs to harness their home crowds’ energy and score the first goal. If they do, their fans will be behind them for the rest of the game and help them get the victory.

David Pastrnak has been a stud for the Bruins this season. The 26-year-old has 62 points (27 assists, 35 goals) in 43 games and +/- of 24. Pastrnak has been unstoppable, but the Rangers need to figure out how slow him down. If they do not, he will destroy them.

Bruins Key Player: (LW) Patrice Bergeron

David Pastrnak would have been the obvious choice for this award, but Patrice Bergeron has also played quite well. Bergeron has 16 goals and 19 assists, but more importantly, he provides a veteran presence on the ice. The 37-year-old has played in the NHL consistently since 2005 and is well-respected around the league.

Bergeron must be a calming force on the ice and provide leadership when necessary tonight.

Rangers Key Player: (C) Mika Zibanejad

Mika Zibanejad will be the Rangers’ x-factor tonight. The Swedish center may be playing without Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, and others, so his strong performance will be more necessary than normal. 

Zibanejad does not need to change much of his game today. He only needs to step up when necessary.

How to Watch Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers

• What: Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

• When: Thursday, January 19, 7:00 PM EST

• How to Watch: NHLPP, ESPN+