Rangers vs. Penguins — 3 Player Props and Best Bet

The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins kick off their seasons tonight in what should be a relatively fast-paced and hard-fought battle on the ice. 

Both teams have star power, especially on the offensive end. This, of course, opens up some interesting betting angles. 

With goal-scorers like Sidney Crosby and Artemi Panarin ready to shine and elite goaltending from Igor Shesterkin and Tristan Jarry, this game offers plenty of value in player props. 

Artemi Panarin Over 0.5 Assists

• Best Odds: -154

Artemi Panarin is one of the most consistent playmakers in the NHL. He’s in a great spot to open the season with at least one assist. 

He registered 63 assists last season, and with a dominant Rangers offense led by Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to set up goals against a Penguins defense that’s still adjusting to new faces like Erik Karlsson.

Panarin’s ability to find the open ice and thread passes is unmatched by anyone else in the league. With Pittsburgh’s defense likely focusing on shutting down Zibanejad’s shot, Panarin should have space to make big plays. 

At -154, the odds are shorter than some might like, to include us, but his track record makes this a solid play. He’s hit this assist mark in five of his last seven games against Pittsburgh, and there’s little reason to think tonight will be any different.

Chris Kreider Anytime Goal Scorer

• Best Odds: +150

If you’re looking for a goal-scorer with strong prop bet value, Chris Kreider at +150 to score anytime is an excellent bet. 

Kreider is dominant on the power play. He netted 18 of his 36 goals last season on the PP. His ability to get to the front of the net and deflect shots or pick up rebounds gives him plenty of scoring chances. The Penguins’ defense isn’t particularly strong at clearing out the crease to boot.

The Rangers’ power play was top 10 in the league last season, and Kreider will once again be featured heavily on the top unit. We think they’re going to keep that trend going. 

Given that Pittsburgh had a middle-of-the-pack penalty kill (78.2% last season), Kreider should get the opportunity to cash in when it’s 5 on 4. 

He’s also been a thorn in Pittsburgh’s side recently, scoring in five of the last six games when the Rangers were favored against the Penguins.

Tristan Jarry Over 27.5 Saves

• Best Odds: -110

While the Penguins might give up a couple of goals, it won’t be due to a lack of effort from Tristan Jarry. 

He’s coming off a season where he averaged 28.4 saves per game, and with the Rangers boasting a top-tier offense, he’ll likely see a lot of action tonight. After all, the other team needs to get the shots in for the goalie to make the saves. The Over 27.5 saves prop at -110 provides pretty decent value given the matchup.

Jarry hit this mark in six of his last eight games to close out the season, and in a fast-paced opener, expect the Rangers to test him early and often. 

With Panarin, Kreider, and Zibanejad driving the offense, Jarry will need to be sharp to keep the Penguins in the game. Even if Pittsburgh manages to win, Jarry will likely have to exceed this saves total due to the volume of shots he’s expected to face over the 60-minute game.

Best Bet: Over 6 Goals

• Best Odds: -110

This matchup screams offense. 

The last 10 meetings between these two teams have averaged 6.4 goals, and with both sides loaded with even more offensive talent, the Over 6 at -110 looks like the best bet for the night.

While Igor Shesterkin and Tristan Jarry are capable goalies, early-season games tend to be looser defensively, and both teams have explosive top lines. 

The Rangers are known for generating high-danger chances with players like Panarin and Kreider, while the Penguins still have the potent duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to rely on.

Expect plenty of action on special teams as well. The Rangers were one of the best power-play teams last year, while Pittsburgh struggled at times on the penalty kill. Add in a raucous crowd at PPG Paints Arena, and we should see a high-energy, back-and-forth contest. Seven of the last 10 matchups between these two have gone over 6 goals, and tonight should be no different.

• Prediction: Rangers 4, Penguins 3