by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Feb 20, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Where to watch: MSG, SN, TVAS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Rangers -170, Jets +145
FanDuel: Rangers -184, Jets +152
BetMGM: Rangers -165, Jets +140
Caesars: Rangers -169, Jets +143
Season record
Jets: 34-21-1
Rangers: 33-14-9
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Jets - Rangers preview, prediction and analysis
The Winnipeg Jets will be playing the New York Rangers on Monday, February 20 in New York.
The Winnipeg Jets lost against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, February 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with a score of 4-2. The Winnipeg Jets currently rank 2nd in the Central Division.
Neal Pionk had a goal and an assist, Mark Scheifele had two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for the Jets (34-21-1), who have lost two straight.
"They had their chances and we just kind of got away from it a little bit," Scheifele said. "We were missing passes and we didn't execute as much as we should have. Then, when you play a skilled team like that, they made some plays."
Cole Perfetti gave the Jets a 1-0 lead on a rebound in the slot at 14:57 of the first period. New Jersey scored 19 seconds later. Pionk put Winnipeg back in front 2-1 with a slap shot from the point at 17:09 of the first.
"We were playing a pretty good game, keeping them to the outside and letting me see pucks," Hellebuyck said. "In playoffs, that's where we get hard-nosed and kill time. Tonight it was a couple turnovers, and they capitalized."
New Jersey scored the remaining goals of the game with a final score of 4-2.
The Winnipeg Jets have won five of their last 10 games.
The New York Rangers lost against the Calgary Flames last Saturday, February 18 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexis Lafreniere scored, and Vincent Trocheck had two assists for the Rangers (33-14-9), who extended their point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves in his first loss since Dec. 3 (7-0-1).
"Obviously you want the two points and every point matters, especially [the Metropolitan] Division and [the Eastern] Conference is tough right now," Trocheck said. "It's going to come down to the wire so every point matters. At the same time, going down early like we did and getting a point out of it is respectable. We came back hard."
After two goals by Calgary, Tarasenko cut it to 2-1 at 16:53 of the second period when he scored from the bottom of the right face-off circle after the puck rolled off the stick of Trocheck as he went backhand-forehand in the slot.
"I think we should start better," Tarasenko said. "It's nice to win games when you're coming back, but you should play better at the start. Everybody knows that we can play better. I don't think anybody's satisfied with the result today."
Lafreniere then tied it 2-2 at 12:48, tapping in his own rebound as it rolled on the goal line for his first NHL power-play goal.
Halak stopped nine shots in the third period, including a left pad save on Kadri during an odd-man rush at 7:14 and a glove save on a breakaway by Dube at 7:55.
"We hung him out to dry early," New York defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "Some of the saves he made were unbelievable."
Mikael Backlund scored the winning goal for Calgary 1:28 into overtime.
The New York Rangers have won eight of their last 10 games.
Prediction
New York continues to play so well. I can't imagine seeing this go awry with the Tarasenko addition still feeling all effects. Rangers 4, Jets 3
The Winnipeg Jets lost against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, February 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with a score of 4-2. The Winnipeg Jets currently rank 2nd in the Central Division.
Neal Pionk had a goal and an assist, Mark Scheifele had two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for the Jets (34-21-1), who have lost two straight.
"They had their chances and we just kind of got away from it a little bit," Scheifele said. "We were missing passes and we didn't execute as much as we should have. Then, when you play a skilled team like that, they made some plays."
Cole Perfetti gave the Jets a 1-0 lead on a rebound in the slot at 14:57 of the first period. New Jersey scored 19 seconds later. Pionk put Winnipeg back in front 2-1 with a slap shot from the point at 17:09 of the first.
"We were playing a pretty good game, keeping them to the outside and letting me see pucks," Hellebuyck said. "In playoffs, that's where we get hard-nosed and kill time. Tonight it was a couple turnovers, and they capitalized."
New Jersey scored the remaining goals of the game with a final score of 4-2.
The Winnipeg Jets have won five of their last 10 games.
The New York Rangers lost against the Calgary Flames last Saturday, February 18 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexis Lafreniere scored, and Vincent Trocheck had two assists for the Rangers (33-14-9), who extended their point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves in his first loss since Dec. 3 (7-0-1).
"Obviously you want the two points and every point matters, especially [the Metropolitan] Division and [the Eastern] Conference is tough right now," Trocheck said. "It's going to come down to the wire so every point matters. At the same time, going down early like we did and getting a point out of it is respectable. We came back hard."
After two goals by Calgary, Tarasenko cut it to 2-1 at 16:53 of the second period when he scored from the bottom of the right face-off circle after the puck rolled off the stick of Trocheck as he went backhand-forehand in the slot.
"I think we should start better," Tarasenko said. "It's nice to win games when you're coming back, but you should play better at the start. Everybody knows that we can play better. I don't think anybody's satisfied with the result today."
Lafreniere then tied it 2-2 at 12:48, tapping in his own rebound as it rolled on the goal line for his first NHL power-play goal.
Halak stopped nine shots in the third period, including a left pad save on Kadri during an odd-man rush at 7:14 and a glove save on a breakaway by Dube at 7:55.
"We hung him out to dry early," New York defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "Some of the saves he made were unbelievable."
Mikael Backlund scored the winning goal for Calgary 1:28 into overtime.
The New York Rangers have won eight of their last 10 games.
Prediction
New York continues to play so well. I can't imagine seeing this go awry with the Tarasenko addition still feeling all effects. Rangers 4, Jets 3
Betting trends
Rangers are 4-1 in the last five meetings.
Favorite is 8-2 in the last 10.
Rangers have won five straight against the Central Division.
Projected lines
Jets:
Kyle Connor -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Saku Maenalanen
Cole Perfetti -- Mark Scheifele -- Mason Appleton
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Adam Lowry -- Blake Wheeler
Morgan Barron -- Kevin Stenlund -- Karson Kuhlman
Josh Morrissey -- Dylan DeMelo
Brenden Dillon -- Neal Pionk
Dylan Samberg -- Nate Schmidt
Connor Hellebuyck
Kyle Connor -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Saku Maenalanen
Cole Perfetti -- Mark Scheifele -- Mason Appleton
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Adam Lowry -- Blake Wheeler
Morgan Barron -- Kevin Stenlund -- Karson Kuhlman
Josh Morrissey -- Dylan DeMelo
Brenden Dillon -- Neal Pionk
Dylan Samberg -- Nate Schmidt
Connor Hellebuyck
Rangers:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Jimmy Vesey
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Barclay Goodrow -- Jake Leschyshyn -- Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Jimmy Vesey
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Barclay Goodrow -- Jake Leschyshyn -- Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
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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.
