Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Picks, Predictions, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

8 minute read

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers hook up at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on Wednesday night for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, a best-of-seven series. The Penguins lead the series 3-1. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on TNT.

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Score Prediction

Rangers 4, Penguins 3

Best Bet

Rangers -130
Over 6 (-120)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS PREDICTIONS

I've been dubious of the Penguins for pretty much the entire series, but here we are. Pittsburgh entered the series with backup Casey DeSmith in between the pipes, with Tristan Jarry (foot) on the shelf. DeSmith didn't even make it through the entire Game 1, leaving in double-overtime with what turned out to be a season-ending core muscle injury. Enter Louis Domingue, who is the third-string goaltender. He came in cold in Game 1, making all 17 saves to win, and he picked up a pair of wins at home against the Rangers to put the Pens within one game of advancing to the second round.

The Rangers put star goaltender Igor Shesterkin in a difficult position, as he made 79 saves (and lost!) in Game 1, and he was forced to make 118 saves in the first two games. He is obviously tired, as he has been pulled in both Games 3 and 4. Head coach Gerard Gallant confirmed that he is going right back to Shesterkin for Game 5, showing confidence in the Vezina Trophy candidate. But is it time to go to Alexandar Georgiev before it's too late?

I just can't believe the Rangers are going to be done after this one, so I am picking them again. They dominating Pittsburgh in the regular season when both teams were at full strength. There was no way anyone could have envisioned the Rangers facing a must-win situation in the final three games to keep their season alive, but that's where we are.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING ODDS

Penguins +115
Rangers -130
Penguins +1.5 (-208)
Rangers -1.5 (+190)
Over 5.5 (-161)
Under 6.5 (-120)

More Odds | Stanley Cup Odds

Updated on 12/26/2024

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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING RESOURCES

• Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
• Matchup: Metropolitan vs. Metropolitan
• Venue: Madison Square Garden
• Location: New York, N.Y.
• TV-Time: ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 49-26-11
• ATS: 43-43
• O/U: 44-39-3

The Pens made like the Steelers in two games at home, posting a touchdown, or seven goals, in both Games 3 and 4. Superstar Sidney Crosby has been on fire, rolling up two goals with nine points, including a power-play marker, and he has 55.7% (64-of-115) inside the faceoff circle. Jake Guentzel has racked up a team-high five goals with six points, and Jeff Carter has registered three goals, too, giving Domingue more than enough support.

Pittsburgh has won four of the past five games overall, but all the other trends are still not in its favor. The Pens are still just 3-7 in the past 10 games as an underdog, while going 2-6 in the past eight on the road and 1-4 in the past five as a road 'dog.

In terms of totals, the OVER has cashed in five in a row, including each of the first four games in this series, while hitting in four of the past five following a win, too.

NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 53-26-7
• ATS: 43-43
• O/U: 36-47-3

The Rangers are struggling at absolutely the worst time, obviously. This team has dropped six of the past eight games overall, and that triple-overtime loss in Game 1 has caused a hangover among the entire team that it was basically been unable to shake. It's time to wake up, or it's time to start dusting off the golf clubs.

New York is just 1-4 in the past five as a favorite in the playoffs, while going 2-6 in the past eight against winning teams. New York is 28-13 in the past 41 games at home, and 21-9 in the past 30 as a home favorite, so now is the time to start living up to those favorable trends. It needs to win one at a time, forcing the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6.

For totals, the OVER has cashed in each of the past four games overall, while going 6-1 in the past seven as a favorite. The OVER is 4-1 in the past five at MSG, too.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS CONCLUSION

The Penguins have built a 3-1 series lead, and bludgeoned the Rangers in both games in Pittsburgh, giving them three chances to finish off the series and advance. Pittsburgh entered this series as slight favorites to win, but now they're overwhelming favorites. I'll be honest, I thought way more of the Rangers, and thought they'd have no problem, even if Jarry were able to make an appearance. Then when DeSmith went down, I really felt good about the Rangers. They still can't beat a journeyman goalie, and I almost want to back Pittsburgh.

However, call me crazy, but I STILL believe in New York. Shesterkin has been Vezina-quality all season. Adam Fox has been Norris-quality all season. Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad are snipers who can change the course of a game in the blink of an eye. So why are the Rangers in such dire straits? I believe the Rangers play with desperation and get the job done in Game 5, forcing this series back to the Steel City in another high-scoring game.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. NEW YORK RANGERS BETTING TRENDS

• Penguins are 4-1 in the past five games overall.
• Penguins are 2-6 in the past eight road games.
• Penguins are 3-7 in the past 10 as an underdog.
• Penguins are 1-4 in the past five as a road 'dog.
• Rangers are 2-6 in the past eight games overall.
• Rangers are 28-13 in the past 41 home games.
• Rangers are 21-9 in the past 30 as a home favorite.
• Rangers are 1-4 in the past five playoff games as a fave.
• OVER is 5-0 in the past five games for the Penguins.
• OVER is 4-0 in the past four playoff games as a 'dog for the Pens.
• OVER is 4-0 in the past four Eastern QF games for the Penguins.
• OVER is 4-0 in the past four games for the Rangers.
• OVER is 6-1 in the past seven as a fave for the Rangers.
• OVER is 4-1 in the past five home games for the Rangers.
• OVER is 6-0-2 in the past eight playoff games as a fave for the Rangers.
• Rangers are 5-2 in the past seven home games vs. Penguins.
• OVER is 22-7-3 in the past 32 meetings.
• OVER is 5-1 in the past six meetings in New York.

BETTING ON THE 2022 NHL PLAYOFFS

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Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish