by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Where to watch: TNT, SN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Maple Leafs -155, Rangers +135
FanDuel: Maple Leafs -164, Rangers +136
BetMGM: Maple Leafs -155, Rangers +130
Caesars: Maple Leafs -161, Rangers +135
Season record
Rangers: 26-14-7
Maple Leafs: 29-11-8
We’ve hit the halfway mark in the NHL season. Yes, you read that right. We’re really hit that halfway mark that quickly. If you blinked, you probably missed a lot of good things happen in the hockey world. And with football about to be out of the way, look for our champion handicappers to get back on the rink. Oskeim Sports is on a 13-5-0 run in the NHL over the last 30 days, as is Will Rogers. Sean Murphy has also cashed in with a 16-10-0 run in the last month. Make sure you’re following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to get on this winning action!
Rangers - Maple Leafs preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Rangers: won 6-2 vs. Panthers
Maple Leafs: won 5-2 vs. Islanders
The New York Rangers will be playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, January 25 in Toronto.
The New York Rangers won against the Florida Panthers Monday, January 23 in New York with a score of 6-2. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division. Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin each had three points. Zibanejad had two goals and an assist on Fox's goal. Fox had a goal and assisted on each of Zibanejad's goals. Panarin had three assists, the primary on each of Zibanejad's goals and on Fox's goal.
"I think we were just getting to open areas for each other," Fox said. "The big thing on a couple of those goals was spread the ice, spread them out, open things up and got some good looks from that."
Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves and came within a foot of scoring a goalie goal into the empty net with 5:25 remaining in the third period.
"Before that shot I felt I would get a chance, but 'Lindy' [defenseman Ryan Lindgren] told me I cannot score before him," Shesterkin said, laughing. "Maybe next time a lucky bounce."
"We played a smart game," Shesterkin said. "I saw all the shots. It's easy when you see the puck."
Alexis Lafreniere scored his first goal in 18 games and had an assist, Filip Chytil also had a goal and an assist, and Jimmy Vesey scored for the Rangers.
"It's always good when the puck is going in with not many shots on net, so of course it's better for our mood, excited, energy coming," Panarin said. "That's always nice when you shoot a few and score a few. That happens sometimes."
The New York Rangers have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won against the New York Islanders Monday, January 23 in Toronto with a score of 5-2. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently rank 2nd in the Atlantic Division. William Nylander had two goals and two assists, all in the second period, for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nylander has nine points (four goals, five assists) during a four-game point streak after having two assists in the previous six.
"I'm trying to pick up my game," Nylander said. "Every night that's what I've been trying to focus on doing, so it's nice to get that night."
John Tavares had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves for the Maple Leafs.
"No life, no energy, no pace, no execution," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "What changed? We come in the first intermission, a chance to regroup. I don't think lots had to be said, other than pointing out the obvious. But it's on the players; they did the talking, and more importantly came out on the ice way more focused and played with energy right from the drop of the puck [in the second period]. The first shift was excellent, and we didn't look back from there."
"We regrouped well in the locker room, [we] just realized we came out a little flat," Tavares said. "Their urgency was high, and they were winning a lot of the pucks and we had to get our pace up, win some of those key battles, sustain pressure and tilt the ice. Once that got going, we earned some opportunities."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Just when I want to believe that the Rangers can turn the corner offensively, they tend to hit a wall here. But I will always trust Igor Shesterkin when needed. Rangers 4, Maple Leafs 3
The New York Rangers will be playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, January 25 in Toronto.
The New York Rangers won against the Florida Panthers Monday, January 23 in New York with a score of 6-2. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division. Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin each had three points. Zibanejad had two goals and an assist on Fox's goal. Fox had a goal and assisted on each of Zibanejad's goals. Panarin had three assists, the primary on each of Zibanejad's goals and on Fox's goal.
"I think we were just getting to open areas for each other," Fox said. "The big thing on a couple of those goals was spread the ice, spread them out, open things up and got some good looks from that."
Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves and came within a foot of scoring a goalie goal into the empty net with 5:25 remaining in the third period.
"Before that shot I felt I would get a chance, but 'Lindy' [defenseman Ryan Lindgren] told me I cannot score before him," Shesterkin said, laughing. "Maybe next time a lucky bounce."
"We played a smart game," Shesterkin said. "I saw all the shots. It's easy when you see the puck."
Alexis Lafreniere scored his first goal in 18 games and had an assist, Filip Chytil also had a goal and an assist, and Jimmy Vesey scored for the Rangers.
"It's always good when the puck is going in with not many shots on net, so of course it's better for our mood, excited, energy coming," Panarin said. "That's always nice when you shoot a few and score a few. That happens sometimes."
The New York Rangers have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won against the New York Islanders Monday, January 23 in Toronto with a score of 5-2. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently rank 2nd in the Atlantic Division. William Nylander had two goals and two assists, all in the second period, for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nylander has nine points (four goals, five assists) during a four-game point streak after having two assists in the previous six.
"I'm trying to pick up my game," Nylander said. "Every night that's what I've been trying to focus on doing, so it's nice to get that night."
John Tavares had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves for the Maple Leafs.
"No life, no energy, no pace, no execution," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "What changed? We come in the first intermission, a chance to regroup. I don't think lots had to be said, other than pointing out the obvious. But it's on the players; they did the talking, and more importantly came out on the ice way more focused and played with energy right from the drop of the puck [in the second period]. The first shift was excellent, and we didn't look back from there."
"We regrouped well in the locker room, [we] just realized we came out a little flat," Tavares said. "Their urgency was high, and they were winning a lot of the pucks and we had to get our pace up, win some of those key battles, sustain pressure and tilt the ice. Once that got going, we earned some opportunities."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Just when I want to believe that the Rangers can turn the corner offensively, they tend to hit a wall here. But I will always trust Igor Shesterkin when needed. Rangers 4, Maple Leafs 3
Betting trends
The underdog is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
The Rangers have won five of the last six meetings.
The over is 10-4 in the last 14 showings in Toronto.
Maple Leafs are 23-6 in the last 29 against the Metropolitan Division.
The underdog is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
The Rangers have won five of the last six meetings.
The over is 10-4 in the last 14 showings in Toronto.
Maple Leafs are 23-6 in the last 29 against the Metropolitan Division.
Projected lines
Rangers:
Artemi Panarin -- Mika Zibanejad -- Chris Kreider
Jimmy Vesey -- Vincent Trocheck -- Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Vitali Kravtsov -- Jake Leschyshyn -- Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Artemi Panarin -- Mika Zibanejad -- Chris Kreider
Jimmy Vesey -- Vincent Trocheck -- Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Vitali Kravtsov -- Jake Leschyshyn -- Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Maple Leafs:
Michael Bunting - Auston Matthews -- William Nylander
Calle Jarnkrok -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Pierre Engvall
Zach Aston-Reese - Pontus Holmberg -- Bobby McMann
Morgan Rielly -- Timothy Liljegren
Mark Giordano -- Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin -- Conor Timmins
Ilya Samsonov
Michael Bunting - Auston Matthews -- William Nylander
Calle Jarnkrok -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner
Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Pierre Engvall
Zach Aston-Reese - Pontus Holmberg -- Bobby McMann
Morgan Rielly -- Timothy Liljegren
Mark Giordano -- Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin -- Conor Timmins
Ilya Samsonov
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
