Rangers vs Blackhawks Picks and Predictions: Home Dogs Battle Back with Fleury

The New York Rangers will see the Chicago Blackhawks for the second time in four days, as the Igor Shesterkin-less Rangers look to push their winning streak to seven games in the Windy City Tuesday night.

Can the Rangers continue to win in the absence of Shesterkin who is likely out for just a week? Can the Blackhawks get their first win in regulation in seven games while playing their third game in four nights?

Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Rangers vs. Blackhawks. 

Rangers vs Blackhawks odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

The Rangers opened at -125 on the moneyline and have bounced between -130 and -125. The total sits at 5.5. In their December 4 meeting in New York, the Rangers closed at -160 with a total of 6 in the 3-2 New York win.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Rangers vs Blackhawks predictions

• Prediction: Blackhawks ML (+110)
• Prediction: Under 5.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Blackhawks ML (+110)

Predictions made on 12/07/2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Rangers vs Blackhawks game info

• Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021
• Puck drop: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NBSCH, MSG 2

Rangers vs Blackhawks betting preview

Injuries

Rangers: Igor Shesterkin G (Out). 
Blackhawks: Connor Murphy D (Questionable), Jake McCabe D (Questionable), Tyler Johnson F (Out). 

Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Rangers vs Blackhawks head-to-head record (since 2015)

Rangers: 5-5 SU, 26 goals for.
Blackhawks: 5-5 SU, 32 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Under is 5-0 in Blackhawks’ last five home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Blackhawks.

Rangers vs Blackhawks picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Moneyline analysis

After starting the season at 1-11 SU, the Chicago Blackhawks have shown some life of late and are 8-4 SU in their last 12. They haven’t been dominating performances, as five of those wins came in extra time, but Marc-Andre Fleury is playing like the reigning Vezina winner with a 6-2 SU record and a 1.71 GAA over his last eight starts and is the reason for the success.

Since November 9, Fleury hasn’t allowed more than three goals but he wasn’t in net for Saturday’s 3-2 New York win, where the Rangers finished with just 1.96 expected goals. It was another one-goal game for Chicago, who has gotten quite comfortable with them as 10 of its last 12 games have been decided by one goal (or had an empty-net goal).

Saturday’s meeting finished fairly even in regards to expected goals, while the Rangers were called for just one penalty (delay of game) compared to Chicago’s three, which included a double-minor that the Rangers scored on. New York sits 11th in the league in penalties taken per game, so the Blackhawks should see a few more opportunities with the man advantage Tuesday night.

The home side will also see Alex Georgiev in net. The Rangers’ backup has been dreadful this season and ranks as the eighth-worst goaltender in the league in terms of goals saved above expected/60. He also ranks fifth-last in WAR. Georgiev did pick up the win in his first start without Shesterkin against Chicago, but the Blackhawks managed under two xgoals in that game, and trusting the struggling backup goalie in back-to-back games is a hard thing to do.

Despite the disadvantage in net, the Rangers come in as -130 road favorites and are winners of six straight games and nine of their last 10. Those wins have come against weak opponents, however, as wins over the Flyers, Sharks, Islanders, Sabres, Devils, and Blue Jackets don’t deserve bragging rights. Chicago is a live dog Tuesday night and has shown that they can play this team competitively as Saturday’s game as +145 road dogs showed. 

Chicago will most likely have Fleury in net Tuesday, which is the biggest difference from Saturday’s meeting. Fleury is enough of a factor to swing that game. Both teams sit in the bottom half of the league in goals per game while Chicago’s strength on the penalty kill should help negate the strength of the Rangers' power play. 

Give us the home dog here but with most underdog games, the best price is usually available closer to puck drop. The advantage that Chicago has in net tonight is the biggest factor for this play.

Prediction: Blackhawks ML (+110)

Over/Under analysis

Combined on the year, both clubs are 17-26 O/U as neither offense has been impressive, especially at even strength. Chicago has scored only 31 goals at 5-on-5 this year, which is the worst mark in hockey. The Rangers are also scoring under 2.00 even-strength goals per game and rely heavily on their power play to drive the offense. Chicago sits 9th in penalty killing and has an 88% kill rate at home this season.

At home, Chicago is 2-8-1 O/U on the year and averages just 4.91 combined goals per game on home ice. In his last five home games, Fleury owns a 1.81 GAA with a .940 save percentage. 

Chicago's goalie will see a New York offense that sits in the Bottom-10 in 5-on-5 goals per game and has a 2.48 GAA this season, which is a Top-5 mark. The Rangers have not scored more than three goals (excluding empty-net goals) in three straight games and have been heavily reliant on Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox of late. If Fleury can keep those two off the score sheet, New York could continue to struggle with bottom six and even strength scoring.

This total closed at 6 on Saturday because Kevin Lankinen was in net for Chicago. New York knows it has to play tight in front of Georgiev and this price doesn’t look to be moving off the -110 5.5 total.

With two Bottom-10 offenses, a hot goalie in Fleury, and two clubs profitable to the Under on the season, we’re hitting the Under 5.5 Tuesday night.

Prediction: Under 5.5 (-110)

Best bet

Both predictions come with risks. Georgiev could implode and kill the Under while the Blackhawks could lay a dud in their third game in four nights. But we trust Fleury more than Georgiev, especially with the New York goalie coming off what looked like a decent start versus Chicago on paper.

New York is a great team, but maybe playing over its talent with nine wins in its last 10 games, considering its league-average rates at 5-on-5. They were -160 at home versus Chicago’s backup goalie and are now -130 on the road facing Fleury. If Fleury is worth 10-20 cents and home ice is worth 20 cents, this -130 price on NYR might be a little long by 15-25 cents.

Pick: Blackhawks ML (+110)

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