Devils vs Rangers Odds, Pick & Prediction – NHL Playoffs Game 3

• The New York Rangers host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in Game 3 of their NHL playoff series
• The Rangers have posted consecutive 5-1 wins to claim a commanding 2-0 series lead
• Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of Saturday night’s matchup at Madison Square Garden

The New York Rangers will try to push the New Jersey Devils to the brink of elimination from the NHL playoffs when they return home on Saturday for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. The Rangers rolled to a dominating 5-1 victory in Game 2 on Thursday night, and now enjoy a 2-0 lead in their series with the archrival Devils.

Start time is set for 8:00pm ET at Madison Square Garden, with all the action televised on ABC and ESPN+.

Devils vs Rangers Game 3 Odds

Despite outclassing the Devils in the first two games of the series in New Jersey, the Rangers return home for Game 3 pegged as -145 favorites in the NHL odds. The odds of the total going OVER 5.5 are listed at 5.5.

However, the Rangers have also rocketed to -550 chalk in the NHL series prices with the Devils dipping to +400 underdogs. New York’s fast start has also lifted them to a shortened +800 bet in the Stanley Cup odds.

Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook on April 21, 2023.

Devils vs Rangers Recent History

With Thursday’s win in Game 2, the Rangers have now taken three of six overall from the Devils this season. However, New York has lost two straight and three of four to the Devils on home ice.

With the total getting pegged at 5.5 in each of the first two games of the series, the OVER is on a 2-0 run and has paid out in nine of the past 12 matchups between these Metropolitan Division rivals.

New Jersey Devils Betting Outlook

After scoring five or more goals six times during a 7-3-0 run to close out their regular season schedule, the Devils’ offense has taken a massive step back in the first two games of this series. The Devils survived a 14-shot onslaught to close out the first period with a 1-0 lead on Thursday night. However, the club became its worst enemy in the second period while taking a pair of penalties that set the stage for the Rangers to claim a lead they would not relinquish.

Team giveaways through Games 1 & 2:

New Jersey Devils: 28

New York Rangers: 9

Puck management, puck decisions.

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) April 21, 2023

New Jersey shooters have yet to score at even strength in the series, with one of their two total goals coming on a penalty shot and the other on the power play. Jack Hughes saw a nine-game points streak come to an end in Game 2, as well as a six-game points streak when facing New York. Nico Hischier is also pointless in the series, and has not found the back of the net in nine games.

New York Rangers Betting Outlook

The Rangers have put a shaky end to the regular season behind them while taking control of this series with a pair of spectacular performances. New York struggled to produce consistent offense at even strength down the stretch, scoring just six total goals at five-on-five during a schedule-ending 1-1-2 run. Special teams have remained key to the Rangers’ success. The club has gone 4-for-10 with the extra man so far in the series, with Chris Kreider potting all four power-play markers, and New York is now 8-1 in its past nine playoff games when Kreider scores.

Patrick Kane picks up his 2nd assist of the game to setup Chris Kreider for another power-play goal.pic.twitter.com/tQJGF9zf0k

— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) April 21, 2023

Patrick Kane has also lived up to expectations during his first playoff run in the Big Apple. Kane contributed a goal and two helpers in Thursday’s win, and has now picked compiled nine points in his past six overall playoff game appearances.

The Rangers have outscored the Devils 10-2 in the series thus far, which is a primary reason the oddsmakers are favoring NYR to advance onto Round 2 in the NHL Playoff Bracket.

Devils vs Rangers Game 3 Prediction

Reeling from back-to-back crushing defeats on home ice to open the series, the Devils must find a way to dictate the tempo early on in Game 3, and find ways to generate some much-needed offensive production.

New Jersey also needs far more from goaltender Vitek Vanecek, if in fact he remains the starting goaltender for Game 3 after getting lit up for nine goals on just 52 total shots in the first two games.

With the Rangers’ biggest stars playing like it, and Igor Shesterkin winning the goaltending duo, look for New York to take a commanding 3-0 series lead on Saturday.

The Pick: Rangers -1.5 (+185); OVER 5.5 (-120)