Tuesday night’s NHL betting action in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is highlighted by Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers. Game time from Madison Square Garden is set for 7 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
Ottawa at New York Game Overview
Ottawa came into this best-of-seven matchup as a slight underdog on the series price odds, but it made the most of its home ice advantage with back-to-back victories in the first two games. Both victories were by one goal starting with a 2-1 win the series opener that closed as a PICK. The Senators prevailed in a wild one this past Saturday with a 6-5 double-overtime win as +103 underdogs at home. They will now go on the road where they won all three games in their 4-2 series victory against Boston in the opening round.
Credit the play of veteran goalie Craig Anderson with the win in Game 1 after stopping 34 of the 35 shots he faced, but the top star of Saturday’s victory was center Jean-Gabriel Pageau with a total of four goals including the game winner in the second overtime period. He now leads the team in postseason goals (5) with right winger Bobby Ryan second on the list with four. Team captain Erik Karlsson joins center Derick Brassard at the top of the list in assists with each player tallying eight.
New York finds itself in an early hole for the second-straight series after going down two games to one against Montreal. The Rangers stormed back by winning the next three contests to eliminate the Canadiens in six games. The five goals they posted in Game 2 were the most since early March when they beat Florida 5-2. It was just the second time the total went OVER in their last 11 games. New York returns home with a 4-1 record in its last five games at Madison Square Garden.
If the Rangers go on to lose this series, they can place a good deal of the blame on a blown two-goal lead late in the third period of Game 2. Brady Skjei’s goal at the five minute mark of the final period gave New York a 5-3 lead that it held onto with less than four minutes left in regulation. The Rangers also led this game 4-2 at the end of the second period. While goalie Henrik Lundqvist was stellar in the series against Montreal before stopping 41 of the 43 shots he faced in Game 1 of this series, he looked a bit rattled after allowing six goals on just 34 shots in Game 2.
Ottawa at New York Game Betting Trends
- The Senators are 9-3 in their last 12 games against the Metro Division and they are 4-1 in their last five games on the road. The total has stayed UNDER in their last six Tuesday games.
- The Rangers have lost 10 of their last 14 games played on Tuesday, but they have won 14 of their last 20 games after allowing five or more goals in their previous outing. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in nine of their last 11 games against a team with a winning record.
- Head-to-head in this Eastern Conference tilt, the home team has won the last four meetings with the total staying UNDER or ending as a PUSH in 21 of the last 26 meetings in New York.
