A new week in the NHL starts on Monday, December 12, with this divisional rivalry game in New York, and here you can get the best Devils vs. Rangers betting pick and odds.

New York is looking for the fourth win in a row when they welcome New Jersey at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers are -122 moneyline favorites on BookMaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6 goals. These Metropolitan Division foes already met this season, and the Devils won 5-3 at MSG.

Devils couldn’t stop the Islanders in a home loss

The New Jersey Devils (21-5-1-0, 17-10 ATS) displayed their worst defensive performance of the season in a 6-4 home defeat to the divisional rivals New York Islanders. It was only the third loss in 21 games for the Devils, who are still tied with the Boston Bruins at the top of the Eastern Conference with league-high 43 points.

It started well for New Jersey against the Islanders as Nico Hischier opened the scoring, but then the Isles scored four goals in the space of nine minutes. New Jersey was forced to sub its starting goalie Vitek Vanecek with Akira Schmid, but that didn’t help the hosts as New York scored two more to secure a deserved victory. Jesper Bratt, Dougie Hamilton, Jack Hughes, and Jonas Siegenthaler registered two points apiece. This year, Hughes leads the Devils with 33 points (G 14, A19), followed by Bratt (G 10, A 20), and Hischier (G 12, A 16).

Vitek Vanecek (12-2-1) is a probable goaltender against the Rangers on Monday. The 26-year-old is allowing 2.30 goals per game with a .916 SV% and two shutouts.

G MacKenzie Blackwood (MCL), G Jonathan Bernier (hip), RW Nathan Bastian (upper body), and LW Ondrej Palat (groin) are out indefinitely and will not face the Rangers on Monday.

Rangers edged the Avalanche in a shootout

The New York Rangers (14-10-4-1, 10-19 ATS) registered their third straight win for the second time this season as they beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in the shootout on the road. New York is back home for the next two games after playing the previous two on the road, and against the Devils, they will have a chance to secure the fourth win in a row for the first time this campaign.

Braden Schneider scored for the Rangers to tie the game in Denver to 1-1, while Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin scored in the shootout to give a W to New York. Igor Shesterkin was phenomenal at the goal with 41 saves. This season, Panarin is the top offensive producer for the Rangers with 34 points (G 6, A 28). Zibanejad has 32 (G 15, A 17) and Adam Fox contributes 30 (G 7, A 23).

Igor Shesterkin (13-4-4) is taking his place in the cage against the Devils on Monday. The 26-year-old is surrendering 2.50 goals per contest this year, along with a .917 SV% and one shutout.

Trends:

New Jersey:

  • 21-5 in the last 26 overall
  • 11-0 in the last 11 road games
  • 10-2 in the last 12 vs. Eastern Conference rivals

New York:

  • 1-4 in the last five home games
  • 1-4 in the last five vs. Metropolitan Division rivals
  • 4-11 in the last 15 vs. Eastern Conference opponents

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers Pick  

The Rangers perhaps won three in a row, but they are not playing well at home so far as they lost ten of the last 13 games at MSG. On the other hand, the Devils are red-hot on the road with 11 consecutive victories and they already beat the Rangers at MSG this season. Igor Shesterkin was fantastic at the goal for the Rangers in his latest start, but I don’t think he will be lucky enough to avoid at least two or three goals from the visitors here. I expect the Devils to tighten up on defense after conceding a season-high six goals in their last game.

Pick: Take the Devils at +100 (-110)

The Total

Although I think that Shesterkin is going to allow multiple goals in this one, I am also backing Vitek Vanecek, one of the best goalies in the NHL at the moment, to bounce back from a weak showing against the Isles. That’s why I don’t expect to see plenty of goals, at least not from the home side. New Jersey has the second-best defense that allows 2.33 goals per game, while the Rangers also have a top 10 D that allows 2.79 gpg. Under is 9-3-1 in the Devils’ last 13 overall; Under is 5-1 in New Jersey’s previous six road games, while Under is 12-4 in the Rangers’ last 16 vs. Eastern Conference rivals.

Pick: Go Under 6 goals (-110)