New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/28/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Where to watch: MSGSN, NHLN, MSG

DraftKings: EVEN

FanDuel: EVEN

BetMGM: Rangers -115, Devils -105

Caesars: EVEN

Devils: 18-4-0

Rangers: 10-8-4

Devils: won 15 of 16; won 5-1 vs. Capitals

Rangers: lost 4-3 vs. Oilers

The true mark of adversity is trying to figure out what you need to do after you suffer loss. Because even in the event of how the New Jersey Devils had their 13-game winning streak end at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs last week, New Jersey has continued to find a way to rebound with two very solid victories they have been 15 wins in the last 16 games. And now New Jersey will look to continue this ridiculous run on Monday when they meet with the New York Rangers for the first time this year, with this meeting taking place in Madison Square Garden.

The Devils continue to amaze each time they take the ice. Just when you think that they're going to lose, they find ways to pull a rabbit out of their hat. Case in point, after a demoralizing loss to Toronto, New Jersey had to go on the road shortly after and take on a Buffalo Sabres team that has certainly had its up and down moments this year. Not only do they go into Buffalo and win, but the defense also prevails by holding the Sabres to just one goal. Then after that, New Jersey returns home to take on the Washington Capitals, a team that will always be considered a dangerous threat no matter how much they're struggling this year just because of Alex Ovechkin. New Jersey once again holds the team to just one goal and puts out five themselves in a dominant victory.

Jack Hughes recorded his first NHL hat trick against Washington in the 5-1 victory and the fact that it is taken him this long to finally get the help that he's needed since becoming the essential face of the franchise a few years ago, is really fun to see. But The funny thing is that it's not Hughes running away with the scoring here. He is now tied with Jesper Bratt for most points on the team with 25 and 22 games, but if you look down the list, there are so many players with double digits in scoring. Of the forwards who have skated for New Jersey this year nine of them are in double figures and points, with captain Nico Hischier benefiting from the balanced scoring with 24 points in 21 games.

But you can't talk about New Jersey right now without mentioning the goaltending, something we have talked about extensively during this incredible run from New Jersey. Vitek Vanecek continues to put up Vezina-type numbers with a 10-2-0 run and a .923 save percentage since he became the No. 1 goalie in New Jersey. Akira Schmid has stepped in gracefully as the backup to Vanecek and has won all four starts he’s appeared in so far.

If you could have told me at the time that two young, unproven goalies would be carrying New Jersey the way that they have while also not having Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier due to injury, I don't think there's any way I would have believed you. New Jersey has a six-point edge over the New York Islanders in the metropolitan division, with the Carolina Hurricanes sitting at a faraway third place with 27 points. In short, this division right now is currently run by New Jersey, and if we get to a point where the Islanders do get involved, it's going to be a very fun ride the rest of the way.

And if there was a time for the devils to continue this sort of run, it would be against the Rangers team that has absolutely not looked good over the recent stretch. New York has lost three of its last five, including back-to-back losses at Anaheim and at home against Edmonton in which New York was up 3-0 at one point. This New York team is too good to be letting leads squander and has too much talent to be losing games of this magnitude. When your reigning Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin has been the only goalie to win a game this year, it's not a good time in New York right now. New York has to find a way to get back on track and win with a solid defense and a high-scoring offense.

Maybe Gerard Gallant just isn't cut to carry a team beyond one year. Who knows?

Until we get to a point where New Jersey is losing games by a wide margin, even one goal lost to Toronto does not hinder me from picking against them. New York is playing too inconsistently right now and if New Jersey gets out into open space with their top players playing the way that they have, it's going to be a very long night for the Rangers. Devils win 4-2

Devils are 75-56 on the road after scoring 5 goals or more their last game since 1996.

Devils are 285-260 on the road after playing at home since 1996.

Rangers are 146-172 at home after allowing 4 goals or more last game since 1996.

Devils:

Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt

Erik Haula -- Jack Hughes -- Dawson Mercer

Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian

Yegor Sharangovich -- Jesper Boqvist -- Fabian Zetterlund  

Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton

Ryan Graves -- John Marino

Brendan Smith -- Damon Severson

Vitek Vanecek 

Rangers:

Artemi Panarin -- Mika Zibanejad -- Chris Kreider

Jimmy Vesey -- Vincent Trocheck -- Barclay Goodrow

Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko

Sammy Blais -- Ryan Carpenter -- Julien Gauthier

Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox

K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba

Zac Jones -- Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin