Oilers vs Rangers Prediction, Starting Goalies & Best Bets (Nov. 1)

• Connor McDavid brings a 14-game season-opening point streak into Madison Square Garden on Sunday night
• Both teams have question marks in the crease, with New York missing its top two goalies
• See my Oilers vs Rangers prediction, starting goalies and best bets for Nov. 1 below

The Edmonton Oilers finish a weekend back-to-back Sunday at Madison Square Garden, one night after blanking the Islanders 4-0 along with the Flames 4-0 Wednesday. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice in that win, and McDavid pushed his season-opening point streak to 14 games.

The New York Rangers are banged up between the pipes, with Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo both out with lower-body injuries. Edmonton has its own goalie storyline, as the Oilers are expected to hand the net to a netminder who hasn’t played an NHL game in over two years.

Puck drop is 6 p.m. ET, with NHL Network, MSG, Sportsnet and TVAS carrying the game. Here’s my Oilers vs Rangers prediction, plus the starting goalies and best bets for Sunday night.

Oilers vs Rangers Prediction

• Oilers moneyline (+105 at BetMGM)

My Oilers vs Rangers prediction is on Edmonton at plus money. The +105 price carries about a 48.8% implied chance, which feels short for a 10-2-2 team that has gone 7-2-1 over its last ten games.

The Rangers have been more uneven at 7-6-1 overall and 4-5-1 over their last ten. Edmonton also has the league’s top offense at 4.21 goals per game, while New York sits 15th at 3.14.

Oilers vs Rangers Key Stats

Both teams allow exactly 3.00 goals per game, so this comes down to who finishes more of their chances. Edmonton’s power play converts at 33.3%, second in the league, but it runs into a Rangers penalty kill that ranks third at 90.5%.

McDavid is the engine. He has 29 assists and 37 points and has picked up an assist in 14 straight games, with Leon Draisaitl riding on his top line. That’s a big ask for a Rangers blueline with two right-shot defensemen listed as day to day.

The biggest knock on this bet is the Edmonton crease. Matt Tomkins is expected to make his first start for the Oilers, and it’s the second half of a back-to-back. That’s why I’m sticking to the moneyline instead of chasing a bigger number.

Oilers vs Rangers Best Bets

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Shots Prop

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Over 1.5 shots on goal (-180 at theScore Bet)

I’m starting my Oilers vs Rangers best bets with Nugent-Hopkins, who scored twice against the Islanders on Saturday. The -180 price works out to about a 64.3% implied chance, so this is a volume play rather than a long shot.

He’s projected to center Edmonton’s second line between Colton Dach and Kasperi Kapanen. That keeps him in a top-six role on the league’s highest-scoring team, and two shots is a modest bar for a player getting those minutes.

Adam Fox Points Prop

• Adam Fox Over 0.5 points (-190 at theScore Bet)

I’m turning to the Rangers blueline to wrap up my Oilers vs Rangers picks. Fox is priced at -190, around a 65.5% implied probability, and he’s projected to anchor New York’s top pair alongside Vladislav Gavrikov.

Edmonton’s penalty kill is the soft spot. The Oilers rank 22nd at 74.4%, which gives the Rangers extra chances to score, and Fox’s role on the top pair gives him plenty of time to help create offense.

Oilers vs Rangers Odds

Odds as of Oct. 31 at BetMGM. Compare prices across the top NHL betting apps before placing your bets.

The latest Oilers vs Rangers odds make New York a -128 home favorite, good for about a 56.1% implied chance. Edmonton +1.5 costs -222 (68.9% implied), while the Rangers pay +180 to win by two or more.

The total sits at 6.5 goals, with the Over at -115 (53.5% implied) and the Under at -105 (51.2%). Check out the full board of NHL odds for the rest of Sunday’s slate.

Oilers vs Rangers Starting Goalies

Neither starter is confirmed. Tomkins is expected to start for Edmonton and play his first NHL game since April 17, 2024, while Tristan Jarry slides into the backup role after Saturday’s shutout on Long Island.

New York lists Dylan Garand first in its projected lineup, with James Reimer as the backup. With Shesterkin and Korpisalo both out with lower-body injuries, the Rangers are leaning on their depth in goal either way.

Oilers vs Rangers Projected Lineups

Edmonton Oilers Projected Lineup

Forwards: Vasily Podkolzin – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl
Colton Dach – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Kasperi Kapanen
Alex Formenton – Jason Dickinson – Mathieu Joseph
Trent Frederic – Owen Michaels – Filip Hallander

Defense: Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Ryan Shea – Connor Murphy
Shakir Mukhamadullin – Ty Emberson

Goalies: Matt Tomkins, Tristan Jarry

Scratched: Max Jones, Jake Walman

Injured: Isaac Howard (knee), Frederik Andersen (undisclosed), Zach Hyman (neck), Mattias Janmark (undisclosed), Devon Levi (undisclosed), Alec Regula (undisclosed), Matt Savoie (undisclosed)

Howard was hurt early in Saturday’s win over the Islanders. Hallander would likely draw in if Howard can’t go.

New York Rangers Projected Lineup

Forwards: Pavel Dorofeyev – Mika Zibanejad – Alexis Lafreniere
Tye Kartye – J.T. Miller – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Will Cuylle – Noah Laba – Gabe Perreault
Eeli Tolvanen – Luke Glendening – Taylor Raddysh

Defense: Vladislav Gavrikov – Adam Fox
Marcus Pettersson – Sean Durzi
Alberts Smits – Braden Schneider

Goalies: Dylan Garand, James Reimer

Scratched: Scott Morrow, Matt Rempe, Matthew Robertson

Injured: Igor Shesterkin (lower body), Joonas Korpisalo (lower body), Joseph Veleno (lower body)

Durzi (undisclosed) and Schneider (illness) both missed practice Saturday, but coach Sullivan called them day to day. If either sits, Robertson, recalled from AHL Hartford, would make his season debut, and Morrow is also an option.