Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/19/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Where to watch: NESN, MSG, SNP, SNO, SNE, SN360, TVAS

DraftKings: Even

FanDuel: Even

BetMGM: Even

Caesars: Even

Bruins: 35-5-4

Rangers: 25-13-7

The Boston Bruins will try to run their winning streak to four games when they visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening.

The Bruins are coming into this game having won three straight following their loss to Seattle on January 12th. The most recent game coming in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on the road in which Boston was a heavy favorite at -190. Brad Marchand scored on the power play, and Charlie McAvoy had two assists to help lead the Bruins to yet another victory and for them to eclipse the 70 point mark well before the All-Star break.

It's no secret that the Bruins are still atop the NHL standings by a wide margin because they have been the best team all year long. Whether that can actually translate into playoff success remains the big question but right now it's hard to look at Boston and think any team can beat them in a seven game series when their goaltending is as good as it is, and their star players are playing like it. Boston is currently on a run where they have won eight of their last ten games.

"I couldn't be more happy," Boston goalie Linus Ullmark said after recording the 100th win of his career. "It has been overwhelming playing with these guys who bring it every night. I have [so] much gratitude."

This matchup should be interesting considering how well the Rangers have played over the last couple of weeks, more notably since the calendar year turned 2023. The Rangers have won six of their last eight with the latest being a 3-1 victory in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. That was a much needed win after New York stumbled at home against the Montreal Canadiens where New York was actually favored as high as -373.

But in the win over Columbus it was a solid effort all around. Mika Zibanejad scored a goal for the Rangers, and Barclay Goodrow added a power play goal in the first period to help the Rangers eventually get to a 3-0 lead. Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves and did not allow a goal until the third.

"I think everyone knows at this point what we have to do, (and that's) what we do well, the things that makes us successful," Zibanejad said. "We didn't do a whole lot of that [against Montreal]."

There was a lot of talk early that the Rangers might be bottoming out to the point where Gerard gallant would be fired but you had to think with the talent that New York has that it would eventually turn around and they would start to find some rhythm before the All-Star break. As long as you have the reigning vezina trophy winner Igor Shesterkin manning the net, you’re going to have as good a chance as any to win on any given night.

This is going to be an epic goaltending matchup so long as everything falls into place. I really do like the way that the Rangers are playing right now, and especially at home this is going to be a much needed advantage for them. But I can't help but look at how Boston has continued to be so successful all year long and has found ways to win no matter the circumstance. Their team is the best team in hockey right now for a reason. Bruins 3, Rangers 2

Bruins are 6-2 in their last eight meetings in New York.

The under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.

Bruins have won their last five on the road.

Brad Marchand - - Patrice Bergeron - - David Pastrnak

Taylor Hall - - David Krejci - - Craig Smith

Pavel Zacha - - Charlie Coyle - - Trent Frederic

Nick Foligno - - Joona Koppanen - - A.J. Greer  

Matt Grzelcyk - - Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm - - Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort - - Connor Clifton

Linus Ullmark

Alexis Lafreniere -- Mika Zibanejad -- Kaapo Kakko

Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Vitali Kravtsov

Barclay Goodrow -- Filip Chytil -- Jimmy Vesey

Sammy Blais -- Jonny Brodzinski -- Jake Leschyshyn

Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox

K'Andre Miller -- Braden Schneider

Jacob Trouba -- Ben Harpur

Igor Shesterkin