by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Nov 21, 2022
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: BSW, MSG
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Rangers -115, Kings -105
FanDuel: Rangers -111, Kings -108
BetMGM: Rangers -115, Kings -105
Caesars: Rangers -115, Kings -105
Season record
Rangers: 9-6-4
Kings: 11-8-2
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins (and the New Jersey Devils?) are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Doc's Sports on a 14-7-0 run over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 12-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Rangers - Kings preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Rangers: won 2-1 at Sharks on Saturday
Kings: lost 3-2 (OT) at Kraken on Saturday
So it is clear to me that the only way the New York Rangers are going to survive this year is if they run Igor Shesterkin into the ground before he turns into a Thanos-like pile of ash into the ice at Madison Square Garden. Because clearly, the New York Rangers did not think this through with their goaltending situation so much so that they have not found ways to be consistent over the last few games and have looked like a run-of-the-mill mediocre team.
So it is clear to me that the only way the New York Rangers are going to survive this year is if they run Igor Shesterkin into the ground before he turns into a Thanos-like pile of ash into the ice at Madison Square Garden. Because clearly, the New York Rangers did not think this through with their goaltending situation so much so that they have not found ways to be consistent over the last few games and have looked like a run-of-the-mill mediocre team.
I could say the same about the Los Angeles Kings and their goaltending, but they're finding a way to win games. Even though lost three of four, including an overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken the other night, the Kings actually look like a playoff team on some nights even though their goaltending again has looked like complete uselessness.
the Rangers have alternated wins and losses in their last five games and are coming off a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks over the weekend. Shesterkin made 22 saves, including a stop on Logan couture with 4.2 seconds remaining to preserve the victory.
"We played a great game tonight, I was happy with our performance," New York coach Gerard Gallant said. "We played hard, had lots of scoring chances, and Reimer played outstanding."
No shame in the Rangers only hanging on by a thread against their former coach David Quinn, who has San Jose playing very well right now, but New York is not looking good right now it's a shame that New York cannot find a decent backup goaltender that isn't nearing over the hill in age and is able to put on performances like that. I don't need to tell you about Jaroslav Halak’s numbers. I won’t subject you to that torture.
Los Angeles is coming back home after a 1-2-1 road trip following that overtime loss to Seattle that we mentioned earlier. Phillip Danault Had a goal and an assist, and Cal Petersen made 28 saves to at least salvage a point for Los Angeles in this one.
"It wasn't the cleanest because the other team sometimes gets in the way," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "It was a really hard, heavy game for both teams, evenly played. We made the last mistake, and they capitalized."
One would expect the goalie to play a difference in this one, and if that is the case, there's no reason why you shouldn't hammer New York no matter how low they are on the money line. New York plays its best with its Vezina trophy-winning goalie in the net. Anyone else just makes life ridiculously hard on this group.
Prediction
Should the Rangers not win this game I will have more questions for them than answers. This is a team that should take care of its family business as soon as possible, and should be able to win games if necessary. Rangers win 4-2
Betting trends
Rangers are 183-133 in November since 1996.
Rangers are 108-102 on the road after scoring 2 goals or less in 2 straight games since 1996.
Kings are 28-11 in non-conference games the last two seasons.
Projected lines
Rangers:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jimmy Vesey
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil - Kaapo Kakko
Sammy Blais - Ryan Carpenter -- Julien Gauthier
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
Zac Jones -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jimmy Vesey
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil - Kaapo Kakko
Sammy Blais - Ryan Carpenter -- Julien Gauthier
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
Zac Jones -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Kings:
Adrian Kempe -- Anze Kopitar -- Gabriel Vilardi
Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Rasmus Kupari -- Carl Grundstrom
Jaret Anderson-Dolan -- Blake Lizotte -- Arthur Kaliyev
Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty
Sean Durzi -- Matt Roy
Alexander Edler -- Sean Walker
Jonathan Quick
Adrian Kempe -- Anze Kopitar -- Gabriel Vilardi
Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Rasmus Kupari -- Carl Grundstrom
Jaret Anderson-Dolan -- Blake Lizotte -- Arthur Kaliyev
Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty
Sean Durzi -- Matt Roy
Alexander Edler -- Sean Walker
Jonathan Quick
Statistical leaders
Rangers:
Points: Artemi Panarin -- 22
Goals: Mika Zibanejad -- 10
Assists: Artemi Panarin -- 17
Goalie: Igor Shesterkin -- 9-2-4, 2.34 GAA, .917 SV%
Kings:
Points: Kevin Fiala -- 18
Goals: Gabe Vilardi -- 10
Assists: Kevin Fiala -- 12
Goalie: Jonathan Quick -- 6-6-2, 3.15 GAA, .892 SV%
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this New York Rangers - Los Angeles Kings prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
