The Rangers will look to build on the momentum from their Winter Classic victory on Monday night.
The Blueshirts will host the Utah Mammoth, who split their first two games in the Metro three-step, walloping the Islanders, 7-2, on Thursday and then falling flat against the Devils on Saturday.
Both of these teams have hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season so far.
Rangers vs. Mammoth odds, prediction
It’s been a funky season for the Mammoth. Utah was expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot in the Central Division thanks to a loaded forward corps, but results have been tough to come by for Andre Tourigny’s side, thanks to inconsistent goaltending and a struggling power play.
The Mammoth have to be particularly frustrated recently, as they’ve played some terrific hockey but are not getting rewarded for it. Utah ranks first in the NHL in expected goals rate and high-danger scoring chance percentage over its last 10 contests, but the Mammoth are just 5-5 in that span.
The team’s defensive work in that span has been exceptional. The Mammoth are conceding just 1.92 expected goals and 8.2 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, both of which are easily the best marks in the circuit over the last 10 games.
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The Rangers are all too familiar with those kinds of numbers, as the Blueshirts have posted some terrific defensive numbers for large stretches of this season, but they aren’t generating enough offense for them to matter.
That hasn’t been the case for the Rangers in recent weeks, as they’re putting up ordinary defensive metrics over their last 10 games, while still struggling to create any offense at 5-on-5.
Both of these teams have traded wins and losses all season, but it does look like one of them is starting to put things together.
The Play: Mammoth moneyline (-104, BetRivers)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
