Rangers vs Islanders Prediction, Odds & Picks – 2024 NHL Stadium Series Game

• The Rangers and Islanders square off in the 2024 NHL Stadium Series
• The Stadium Series odds favor the Rangers over their rivals at MetLife field
• Read below for Rangers vs Islanders prediction, odds and picks 2024

The 2024 NHL Stadium Series concludes this Sunday, February 18th with an intense battle for New York bragging rights between the Rangers and Islanders at MetLife Stadium. This outdoor game pits a surging Rangers squad against a scrappy Islanders team trying to make a late push for the playoffs.

The puck drops at 3 PM ET with national coverage on ABC. According to top sportsbooks, the Rangers enter as -145 favorites while the total is set at 5.5 goals. But what’s the best bet for the Stadium Series?

Let’s get into our Rangers vs Islanders prediction, as we analyze the 2024 Stadium Series odds and matchup.

Rangers vs Islanders Odds – 2024 Stadium Series

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Odds as of Feb. 17 at BetMGM Sportsbook. Check out the BetMGM sign up promo to wager on Rangers vs Islanders.

Rangers vs Isles Betting Trends

There are some betting trends to note before making a prediction on the Rangers vs Islanders NHL Stadium Series game. For starters, the Islanders have taken seven of the past 10 meetings in this rivalry, although the Rangers won the previous meeting by a 5-3 score in December 2022.

The other significant NHL betting trend is the Rangers’ dominance in outdoor games. The NYR are 4-0 all-time in outdoor NHL games, winning the 2012 Winter Classic, 2014 Stadium Series games, and the 2018 Winter Classic. The Islanders, meanwhile, are 0-1 in outdoor games, losing to the Rangers in the 2014 Stadium Series.

Rangers Betting Preview

The Rangers (35-16-3) sit comfortably atop the NHL’s Metropolitan division, seven points ahead of the second-place Hurricanes. New York is one of the hottest teams in hockey right now, riding a six-game winning streak and earning points in nine of their last 10 contests.

Offensively, the Rangers are led by the stellar first line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and MVP candidate Artemi Panarin. Panarin paces the team with a whopping 71 points while Kreider leads the squad with 27 goals. The Blueshirts have scored 3.3 goals per game this season, good for 3rd best in the entire league.

Every Ranger with 10+ goals this season:

— Artemi Panarin
— Chris Kreider
— Mika Zibanejad
— Vincent Trocheck
— Alexis Lafreniere
— Jimmy Vesey
— Will Cuylle

Contributions throughout the lineup pic.twitter.com/34vpeE8RId

— p – RangersMuse (@nyrangersmuse) February 16, 2024

On the back end, Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox anchors an underrated defensive corps that allows just 2.7 goals against per game. Between the pipes, New York relies on a tandem of veterans Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. Shesterkin has rebounded nicely from a shaky first half to post a .913 save percentage while Quick has been stellar when called upon, going 12-4-2 with a 2.27 GAA.

The one concern for the Rangers is a lower-body injury to top-six winger Blake Wheeler suffered on Thursday night. His absence leaves a hole on the first line that head coach Peter Laviolette must figure out how to fill before Sunday’s tilt.

Islanders Betting Preview

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Islanders (21-17-12) under new head coach Patrick Roy. After losing 8 of 9 games in late December, New York made a coaching change, bringing in the Hall of Famer Roy to replace Lane Lambert behind the bench.

The Isles have stabilized a bit under Roy, hovering around the .500 mark over their last 10 contests. However, they still sit 5th in the Metro division, 16 points back of the Rangers for the top spot.
The Islanders will need to string together some wins immediately if they want to qualify for the postseason.

Currently, they are fourth in the final Eastern Conference wild-card standings, sitting several points behind No. 2 WC Detroit.

Again. Whistle. Again. Whistle. Again. pic.twitter.com/mrVzjempU3

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) February 14, 2024

Offensively, New York is paced by the two-way play of star center Mathew Barzal who leads the squad in both points (56) and assists (41). Winger Brock Nelson is tied for the team lead with 22 goals while 2023 deadline acquisition Bo Horvat continues to make an impact, racking up 21 goals and 47 points in 52 games on Long Island this year.

Two former Vezina Trophy finalists, Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov, hold down the crease for the Islanders. Sorkokin is 37-16-12 with a .911 percentage, while the backup Varlamov has posted a 16-12-10 record along with a .911 save percentage.

Rangers vs Islanders Prediction

The Rangers are sizable favorites at -145 for good reason. They are deeper, more talented, and playing better hockey than the Islanders right now. The Blueshirts’ offense should have the advantage, even with Wheeler out of the lineup. And Quick has simply been outstanding in the New York net.

Looking at the two teams’ 5-on-5 numbers over the past five games, the Rangers have an expected goals percentage right around 50%, while the Isles are sitting below that clip. The Rangers also have a huge special teams advantage with their fifth-ranked power play unit facing the Islanders 32nd ranked penalty kill.

Number 93 on the power play 🚨

3 goals in 3:34 has the Rangers flying pic.twitter.com/hq3VXa3qgc

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2024

That said, the Islanders tend to elevate their play in rivalry games like this. If Barzal, Nelson, and Horvat can lead the attack while Sorokin stands tall, the Isles have a fighter’s chance to keep things close and perhaps pull off an upset.

The Rangers are the right side here but the Islanders should put up a battle. Take the NYR on the moneyline while expecting an intense, tightly-played contest between these two rivals.

Stadium Series Picks:

• Rangers Moneyline (-145)
• Panarin Anytime Goal (+140)