The New York Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins at storied Madison Square Garden to open the 2025-26 NHL regular season on Tuesday, October 7.
My top Penguins vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks are calling for New York to win comfortably on the heels of a solid showing from star goalie Igor Shesterkin tonight.
Penguins vs Rangers prediction
Penguins vs Rangers Best bet: Igor Shesterkin Over 23.5 saves (-125)
I’m anticipating a tidy Game 1 from New York Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin. While he’s coming off a bit of a down season with a .905 save percentage, he was excellent against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a 3-1 record and impressive .933 SV% and 2.02 GAA.
Add his career .926 and 2.07 marks against the division rivals, and Shesterkin has plenty of familiarity with the Pens.
Still, this lean is more about Pittsburgh being able to generate enough shooting opportunities to send Shesterkin’s save total Over the number.
New York allowed the ninth-most shot attempts per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 and the sixth-most shots per game last season, so with limited practice time and a short preseason, Pittsburgh should approach 27 to 28 shots tonight.
Additionally, considering the outlook for the Penguins heading into the 2025-26 campaign, I wouldn’t be surprised to see plenty of pucks on net given the lack of skilled scorers.
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Penguins vs Rangers same-game parlay
As noted, the Penguins lack talent around the aging staples, and No. 1 goalie Tristan Jarry is coming off his worst season as a pro with an .892 save percentage and 3.12 GAA.
New York, on the flip side, has undergone a major roster overhaul since last season. The Rangers also have their eyes set on returning to the postseason and have the personnel to do just that.
Penguins rookie Ville Koivunen is set for a top-line gig alongside Sidney Crosby, and the Finn recorded two or more shots in five of eight NHL games last spring. He and Crosby also clicked for a solid 52.3 Corsi For percentage and 61.0% shot-share rate during the stretch.
Penguins vs Rangers SGP
- Rangers -1.5
- Igor Shesterkin Over 23.5 saves
- Ville Koivunen Over 1.5 shots on goal
Penguins vs Rangers odds
- Moneyline: Penguins +185 | Rangers -225
- Puck Line: Penguins +1.5 (-140) | Rangers -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
How to watch Penguins vs Rangers
| Location | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date | Tuesday, October 7, 2025 |
| Puck drop | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Penguins vs Rangers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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