New York Rangers vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/18/2024

Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Thursday, January 18, 2024

Venue:  T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Rangers -125, VGK +105; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Rangers -125, VGK +105; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Rangers -125, VGK +105; Over/Under:  6 goals

New York Rangers:  28-13-2 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

Vegas Golden Knights:  25-14-5 (2nd place, Pacific Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Sean Murphy is on a HOT STREAK in the NHL on a 16-8 NHL RUN for +$6,150 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

New York Rangers:  4-5-1 last 10

Vegas Golden Knights:  4-6-0 last 10

The Rangers are entering this game with 58 points, a 28-13-2 record overall, and they are 13-7-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Seattle Kraken in their last game, winning that one at home 5-2. Blake Wheeler led the team in goals scored with 2 while Erik Gustafsson, Kaapo Kakko, and Vincent Trocheck each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad each led the team in assists with 2 while Blake Wheeler, Mika Zibanejad, Jonny Brodzinski, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Will Cuylle, Barclay Goodrow, and Jimmy Vesey each led the team in shots on net in that game with 2. Igor Shesterkin was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 31 shots with 29 saves and a .935 save percentage. Their offense has scored 143 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 123 goals against them allowing 2.9 goals per game.

The Golden Knights are entering this game with 55 points, a 25-14-5 record overall, and they are 16-5-2 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Nashville Predators in their last game, winning that one at home 4-1. Mark Stone led the team in goals scored with 3 as he recorded a hattrick while Jonathan Marchessault scored 1 goal for them in that game. Pavel Dorofeyev and Chandler Stephenson each led the team in assists with 2 while Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Logan Thompson was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 35 shots with 34 saves and a .971 save percentage. Their offense has scored 140 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 120 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Golden Knights listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Golden Knights have looked good in their games this season with their 25-14-5 record overall which has them in 2nd place of their division in the West. They got off to a really hot start this season as they had the best record in the NHL over the 1st month but they recently went through a slump and they haven't been at their best. Now they are starting to get hot again with a win in their last game and they will be looking to carry over that momentum into this one. They have looked a lot better on home ice this season with their 16-5-2 home record too. Meanwhile, the Rangers have also looked great in their games this season with their 28-13-2 record overall which has them leading their division in the East. The Rangers haven't looked as good in their road games this season with their 13-7-2 road record and lately they have been going through their own slump as they haven't been at their best. They are also coming off a win in their last game to give them some momentum here but both of these teams have just 4 wins in their last 10 games and the edge is with the home team here since the Golden Knights have been so strong on home ice while the Rangers have also been a better home team this year. The best way to place a bet here is on the Golden Knights to win this game. 

Rangers Golden Knights Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, January 18, 2024 (10:00 pm ET start time) is VGK 5 Rangers 3.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this New York Rangers Vegas Golden Knights prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NHL predictions and previews.

New York Rangers: 138-93 (+14.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 57-35 (+12.2 units) on the moneyline after playing a game where 7 or more total goals were scored. 28-15 UNDER off a home win by 2 goals or more. 31-17 UNDER off a home win scoring 4 or more goals.

Vegas Golden Knights: 35-35 (-16.4 units) on the moneyline off a home win. 25-27 (-15.1 units) on the moneyline off a home win scoring 4 or more goals. 15-8 UNDER after 1 or more consecutive unders. 8-1 UNDER after allowing 1 goal or less in their previous game. 

New York Rangers:  T. Pitlick (C) Out indefinitely - Lower Body. F. Chytil (C) Out indefinitely - Upper Body.

Vegas Golden Knights:  J. Eichel (C) Out indefinitely - Lower Body. J. Patera (G) Ques Thurs - Undisclosed. T. Bjornfot (D) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed. A. Hill (G) Late Jan - Lower Body. W. Carrier (LW) Out indefinitely - Upper Body. B. Hutton (D) Out indefinitely - Upper Body. W. Karlsson (C) Out indefinitely - Lower Body. S. Theodore (D) Out indefinitely - Upper Body. R. Lehner (G) Out indefinitely - Hip.

“That was important for the team. A huge win." - Igor Shesterkin after their win against the Kraken in their game on Tuesday.

“I think it was the first timeout, I looked up and we didn't have a shot and they had six or whatever it was, but I didn't feel we were being dominated. It did feel like we were not getting puck possession going into their end, but I didn't feel we were under water in terms of the play. We just had to win a few more battles.” - Bruce Cassidy after his team’s win against the Predators in their game on Monday.

LW Panarin, Artemi

C Trocheck, Vincent

RW Lafrenière, Alexis

LD Lindgren, Ryan

RD Fox, Adam

G Shesterkin, Igor

LW Dorofeyev, Pavel

C Stephenson, Chandler

RW Stone, Mark

LD Martinez, Alec

RD Pietrangelo, Alex

G Thompson, Logan

Points: A. Panarin (60)

Goals: A. Panarin (27)

Assists: A. Panarin (33)

GAA: J. Quick (2.49)

Points: J. Eichel (44)

Goals: J. Eichel (19)

Assists: M. Stone (29)

GAA: A. Hill (1.93)

Coaches:

New York Rangers: Peter Laviolette (1st season)

Vegas Golden Knights: Bruce Cassidy (2nd season)