Oilers vs Rangers Odds, Predictions and Best NHL Pick for Monday, January 3rd

• The New York Rangers are -130 favorites over the Edmonton Oilers in an NHL game scheduled for Monday, January 3
• Edmonton has won five straight games over the Rangers
• New York is 3-1-1 overall in the club’s last five games

The New York Rangers are fresh off back-to-back wins over the two-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are winless (0-1-1) on their New Jersey/New York road swing as they arrive in Manhattan to meet the Rangers.

Logic would point to a New York victory but recent history is suggesting the Oilers are worth a look as well. Edmonton is riding a five-game winning streak over the Rangers.

Oddsmakers are leaning toward the home team, however. The Rangers are set as the -130 home-ice favorites. New York is 1-2-1 straight up over the club’s past four home games.

Oilers vs Rangers Odds

Odds as of January 2nd at FanDuel

The puck will drop at 7pm ET at Madison Square Garden.

Oilers vs Rangers NHL Betting Trends

The fanbase is calling for the head of Oilers coach Dave Tippett as Edmonton continues to struggle. Edmonton is showing a 2-6-2 record over the past 10 games.

Connor McDavid on the breakaway… you already know what happens next 😤

(also what a pass from Duncan Keith!!) pic.twitter.com/giIyC0B4kD

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2021

Center Connor McDavid has 3-5-8 numbers over the past eight games to pace the Oilers. McDavid (53 points) and teammate Leon Draisaitl (52) are 1-2 in the NHL in scoring.

Oilers vs Rangers Recent Results

The Rangers are a solid 9-3-2 at home following Saturday’s 4-0 shutout of the Lightning. New York is 3-2-1 this season in the second back of back to backs.

#Rangers Mika Zibanejad records his 6th hat trick since 2019-20. That is tied for the most in the NHL over the last 3 seasons (McDavid, Pastrnak). #NYR pic.twitter.com/ZzpXIKnfr5

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 2, 2022

Center Mike Zibanejad continues to carry the hot hand. His hat-trick against the Lightning improved Zibanejad to 6-3-9 totals over the past six games. Left-winger Chris Kreider has dished out seven assists over the same span.

Oilers vs Rangers Injury Report

Perhaps playing number one goalie Mike Smith in back-to-back games as he came off IR wasn’t the wisest choice the Oilers could’ve made. He’s out again, listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Forward Ryan Nugent Hopkins has also returned to Edmonton and is being listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.  Defenseman Kris Russell (upper body injury) and forward Zack Kassian (COVID-19 protocol) are out.

UPDATE: Artemi Panarin and assistant coach Mike Kelly have been added to NHL’s Covid protocol list and will be out today. Morgan Barron has been recalled from the taxi squad.

— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 2, 2022

New York played Sunday minus forward Artemi Panarin. The team’s leading scoring and eighth in the NHL with 36 points, Panarin entered COVID-19 protocol on Sunday. He joined defensemen Jared Tinordi and Ryan Lindgren and center Kevin Rooney in COVID protocol. Forward Sammy Blais (lower-body injury) is also out.

Expect A Battle Of The Backups

Smith’s injury means Edmonton is back to riding Mikko Koskinen between the pipes. Ilya Konovalov is backing up Koskinen and you know he’s not playing.

🔁 #Oilers roster move 🔁

Goaltender Iyla Konovalov has been recalled from the taxi squad under emergency conditions. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/1m8CWoYuo2

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 1, 2022

Smith allowed 10 goals in his two starts before being shelved again. Koskinen is 0-4-1 in his last five starts and has allowed 20 goals over that span.

Oilers vs Rangers Projected Starting Goalies

Igor Shesterkin played both games against the Lightning. With back-to-back games on the docket, look for Alexandar Georgiev to get the call for the Rangers. He was removed from COVID-19 protocol on January 1.

Will Georgiev be ready if needed tomorrow after just coming off the COVID list?

"He’d be ready. He skated last week. He wasn’t sick. He was just in protocol. He’s been on the ice a lot."#NYR

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) January 2, 2022

He most recently saw action on December 17. Georgiev is 0-2-1 over his last three decisions. However, his save percentage in those games was .921.

Oilers vs Rangers Prediction

The problems currently befalling the Oilers are not new developments with this team. The bottom six forwards are weak, the defensive depth is thin and the goaltending is inconsistent. Yet they come into this contest off consecutive overtime losses. As long as McDavid and Draisaitl are in the lineup, Edmonton isn’t out of any game.

RANGERS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/XEaxd5aMxD

— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 2, 2022

The Rangers, though, appear to have found their game with successive wins over the Lightning. Even the absence of Panarin didn’t slow them down.

Pick: New York Rangers ML -130 at FanDuel Sportsbook