by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Where to watch: MSG, TSN5, RDS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later for odds.
FanDuel: Check back later for odds.
BetMGM: Check back later for odds.
Caesars: Check back later for odds.
Season record (entering Tuesday)
Senators: 29-26-4
Rangers: 34-17-9
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Senators - Rangers preview, prediction and analysis
The Ottawa Senators will be playing the New York Rangers on Thursday, March 2 in New York.
The Ottawa Senators won against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, February 27 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa with a score of 6-2. The Ottawa Senators currently rank 7th in the Atlantic Division.
Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists for the Ottawa Senators. It was Giroux's first four-point game since Nov. 21, 2019, when he had two goals and two assists for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"Sometimes when the game is big, you [can't] let it be a big game, you just play hockey," Giroux said. "You don't overthink it, and tonight I think we did that. We didn't overthink the way we wanted to play. We had a game plan and we just followed it."
Thomas Chabot had a goal and two assists, Artem Zub had two assists, and Cam Talbot made 22 saves for the Senators (29-26-4), who have won two straight.
"Everyone stepped up tonight," Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said. "I think everyone knows the importance of this final stretch, but our focus was just winning [every] shift and doing whatever it takes to win, and I think everybody did that tonight."
Tyler Bertuzzi gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 11:48 of the first period when he drove to the net and tucked a shot past Talbot's outstretched right pad. Jake Sanderson tied it 1-1 at 3:41 of the second period with a slap shot from the point through traffic on a power play.
"It was one of our better performances, physically, in a while," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. "We played a playoff-style game. Early on they had a good push. They started with the lead, but we stayed with it and put pucks in and used everyone, really. But ultimately, I've said it plenty, when your best players are your best players, you usually win."
David Perron put Detroit back in front 2-1 at 5:11 with his own power-play goal, a wrist shot short side from the left circle. Drake Batherson scored another power-play goal to tie it 2-2 at 12:25, skating into the right circle and beating Hellberg blocker side.
The Senators, who are fifth in the NHL on the power play at 25.2 percent, finished 2-for-6 on the man-advantage.
Giroux gave the Senators a 3-2 lead at 14:10 of the second. He wasn't able to get a shot off on a breakaway after being hooked by Gustav Lindstrom, but the loose puck still went five-hole on Hellberg.
"I think every line played great and we were rolling the lines," Giroux said. "The fans gave us some energy, too, and in saying that, it was a great game for us. But you know they're going to come out hard tomorrow."
Tkachuk made it 4-2 at 17:41, receiving a backhand stretch pass from Giroux before shooting glove side from the top of the left circle. It was his 25th goal of the season.
"I needed to be at my best tonight," Tkachuk said. "These are huge games for our team. I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help the team win, and whether that was by emotion or physicality or making the play at the right time, but everybody did that tonight. It wasn't just me. Everybody put their heart on their sleeve and did it for the guy next to them."
Chabot scored 47 seconds into the third period to make it 5-2. He warded off Filip Hronek as he drove to the net and chipped a shot over Hellberg's right shoulder during a 4-on-4.
Tim Stutzle scored top shelf from the low slot at 15:00 for the 6-2 final.
The Ottawa Senators have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
The New York Rangers won against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, February 26 at Madison Square Garden in New York with a score of 5-2. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Vincent Trocheck had two goals and an assist for the New York Rangers. Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (34-17-9), who were 0-3-1 during the skid.
"It was a big one for us just because of the last few games, the way they've been going," Trocheck said. "We kind of went on a little bit of a slide there and needed to make sure we're bringing it back."
Alexis Lafreniere put New York ahead 1-0 at 14:00 of the first period, scoring from a sharp angle off a give-and-go with Kaapo Kakko.
Trocheck made it 2-0 at 2:02 of the second period when his centering pass intended for Chris Kreider redirected in off the stick of Kings defenseman Matt Roy.
Trocheck then beat Quick blocker side from the high slot in between four defenders to push it to 3-0 at 3:37.
"Whenever you get up, give yourself the momentum, you don't have to worry about digging yourself out of a hole like we've been doing a little bit lately," Trocheck said. "So to get out to a lead early was big for us."
Viktor Arvidsson cut it to 3-1 at 18:12 when he batted in the puck near the left post for a power-play goal. Matt Roy got the Kings to within 3-2 at 1:27 of the third period, finishing off a 2-on-1 with Phillip Danault with a wrist shot from the edge of the right circle.
Panarin quickly responded for the Rangers to make it 4-2 at 2:11. He put in his own rebound after Copley lost his balance making the initial save. Zibanejad made it 5-2 at 5:26 on a power play. He scored his 31st goal on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Adam Fox.
Zibanejad returned to start the third after having to be helped off the ice when a slap shot by Drew Doughty hit his right ankle at 17:39 of the second.
"It's an adrenaline rush whenever you see him go down," Trocheck said. "Obviously, you don't want your star player going down, especially this late in the season, so him coming back in the third was definitely a relief."
The New York Rangers ended a four-game skid with a 5-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings.
The New York Rangers have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
Prediction
Patrick Kane's New York debut. What a time. That crowd will be lit. Enjoy it, Rangers fans. Rangers 6, Senators 3
The Ottawa Senators won against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, February 27 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa with a score of 6-2. The Ottawa Senators currently rank 7th in the Atlantic Division.
Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists for the Ottawa Senators. It was Giroux's first four-point game since Nov. 21, 2019, when he had two goals and two assists for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"Sometimes when the game is big, you [can't] let it be a big game, you just play hockey," Giroux said. "You don't overthink it, and tonight I think we did that. We didn't overthink the way we wanted to play. We had a game plan and we just followed it."
Thomas Chabot had a goal and two assists, Artem Zub had two assists, and Cam Talbot made 22 saves for the Senators (29-26-4), who have won two straight.
"Everyone stepped up tonight," Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said. "I think everyone knows the importance of this final stretch, but our focus was just winning [every] shift and doing whatever it takes to win, and I think everybody did that tonight."
Tyler Bertuzzi gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 11:48 of the first period when he drove to the net and tucked a shot past Talbot's outstretched right pad. Jake Sanderson tied it 1-1 at 3:41 of the second period with a slap shot from the point through traffic on a power play.
"It was one of our better performances, physically, in a while," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. "We played a playoff-style game. Early on they had a good push. They started with the lead, but we stayed with it and put pucks in and used everyone, really. But ultimately, I've said it plenty, when your best players are your best players, you usually win."
David Perron put Detroit back in front 2-1 at 5:11 with his own power-play goal, a wrist shot short side from the left circle. Drake Batherson scored another power-play goal to tie it 2-2 at 12:25, skating into the right circle and beating Hellberg blocker side.
The Senators, who are fifth in the NHL on the power play at 25.2 percent, finished 2-for-6 on the man-advantage.
Giroux gave the Senators a 3-2 lead at 14:10 of the second. He wasn't able to get a shot off on a breakaway after being hooked by Gustav Lindstrom, but the loose puck still went five-hole on Hellberg.
"I think every line played great and we were rolling the lines," Giroux said. "The fans gave us some energy, too, and in saying that, it was a great game for us. But you know they're going to come out hard tomorrow."
Tkachuk made it 4-2 at 17:41, receiving a backhand stretch pass from Giroux before shooting glove side from the top of the left circle. It was his 25th goal of the season.
"I needed to be at my best tonight," Tkachuk said. "These are huge games for our team. I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help the team win, and whether that was by emotion or physicality or making the play at the right time, but everybody did that tonight. It wasn't just me. Everybody put their heart on their sleeve and did it for the guy next to them."
Chabot scored 47 seconds into the third period to make it 5-2. He warded off Filip Hronek as he drove to the net and chipped a shot over Hellberg's right shoulder during a 4-on-4.
Tim Stutzle scored top shelf from the low slot at 15:00 for the 6-2 final.
The Ottawa Senators have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
The New York Rangers won against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, February 26 at Madison Square Garden in New York with a score of 5-2. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Vincent Trocheck had two goals and an assist for the New York Rangers. Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (34-17-9), who were 0-3-1 during the skid.
"It was a big one for us just because of the last few games, the way they've been going," Trocheck said. "We kind of went on a little bit of a slide there and needed to make sure we're bringing it back."
Alexis Lafreniere put New York ahead 1-0 at 14:00 of the first period, scoring from a sharp angle off a give-and-go with Kaapo Kakko.
Trocheck made it 2-0 at 2:02 of the second period when his centering pass intended for Chris Kreider redirected in off the stick of Kings defenseman Matt Roy.
Trocheck then beat Quick blocker side from the high slot in between four defenders to push it to 3-0 at 3:37.
"Whenever you get up, give yourself the momentum, you don't have to worry about digging yourself out of a hole like we've been doing a little bit lately," Trocheck said. "So to get out to a lead early was big for us."
Viktor Arvidsson cut it to 3-1 at 18:12 when he batted in the puck near the left post for a power-play goal. Matt Roy got the Kings to within 3-2 at 1:27 of the third period, finishing off a 2-on-1 with Phillip Danault with a wrist shot from the edge of the right circle.
Panarin quickly responded for the Rangers to make it 4-2 at 2:11. He put in his own rebound after Copley lost his balance making the initial save. Zibanejad made it 5-2 at 5:26 on a power play. He scored his 31st goal on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Adam Fox.
Zibanejad returned to start the third after having to be helped off the ice when a slap shot by Drew Doughty hit his right ankle at 17:39 of the second.
"It's an adrenaline rush whenever you see him go down," Trocheck said. "Obviously, you don't want your star player going down, especially this late in the season, so him coming back in the third was definitely a relief."
The New York Rangers ended a four-game skid with a 5-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings.
The New York Rangers have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
Prediction
Patrick Kane's New York debut. What a time. That crowd will be lit. Enjoy it, Rangers fans. Rangers 6, Senators 3
Betting trends
Check back later for trends.
Projected lines
Senators:
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
Alex DeBrincat -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph -- Dylan Gambrell -- Julien Gauthier
Derick Brassard -- Mark Kastelic -- Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot -- Artem Zub
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Erik Brannstrom -- Nick Holden
Cam Talbot
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
Alex DeBrincat -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph -- Dylan Gambrell -- Julien Gauthier
Derick Brassard -- Mark Kastelic -- Austin Watson
Thomas Chabot -- Artem Zub
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Erik Brannstrom -- Nick Holden
Cam Talbot
Rangers:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Patrick Kane
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte -- Ryan Carpenter -- Barclay Goodrow
Niko Mikkola -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Patrick Kane
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte -- Ryan Carpenter -- Barclay Goodrow
Niko Mikkola -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Ottawa Senators - New York Rangers 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.
