Ice Hockey | Monday, December 12, 2022 11:00 AM

New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils Best Bet: Metropolitan Battle at the Garden

ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

US Sports Expert

New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils Best Bet: Monday, December 12th

A battle between two Metropolitan Division teams will ensue on Monday night when the NY Rangers play host to the NJ Devils at Madison Square Garden. Our resident hockey pundit Ej Garr lives just a stone’s throw from the World’s most famous arena, so he knows both of these organizations to the extreme. Let’s take home the dough this week!

In this article:

New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils Preview

December 12, 00:05 (UK time)

By now, I’ve disclosed that I am a Rangers fan who grew up in Larchmont, NY, and I have been to MSG more times than I could count. This is undoubtedly an affair that I wish I had tickets for because this will be one hell of a hockey game on Monday night at the Garden.

The last time these two met on November 28, I was right here giving you the Devils to win the game, and they did exactly that, 5 – 3. That was also a game played here at MSG, and I know you enjoyed that 2.05 offer that I checked you into the boards. Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you, HA!

If you recall, the situation was much different going into that game because the Rangers had just let a 3 – 0 lead against Edmonton slip away into a 4 – 3 loss. The Rangers gave up all 4 goals in the 3rd period and that was not the best way to head into a game with the Metropolitan Division leaders as Jersey is.

The standings still have Jersey on top, and they scored their 100th goal of the campaign in the loss to the Islanders last time out, 6 – 4. Of course, the table doesn’t matter all that much with only 26 games played because we are not even into January yet. None of that matters right now, and I love it when I am watching a pregame or listening to announcers saying things as if the playoffs started today. Uh no, we are nowhere close to that yet, so shut up now! Playoffs? Talkin’ bout playoffs? (You have to know that one to get it, HA… Just look up Jim Mora and the rant he went on in the NFL)

Anyway, we have a much different situation breaking down tonight’s game than we did a few weeks ago, as the Rangers are riding a 3-game win streak into this game, and NJ just gave up six goals to the Isles the last time they were on the ice.

In correlation to the last meeting, the line setters are not tipping their hand, as we have a pick situation on the Moneyline. This time, I am counting on my boys to come through and take out New Jersey at home on Monday night. Don’t start the homer thing with me because you are barking up the wrong tree. I don’t blindly play the Rangers, and I already proved that when I dished out NJ to beat us in the last meeting. In fact, in any Rangers game I have done here, I haven’t suggested you ride my team, but tonight, we’re doing it.

Igor Shesterkin has fully gained his confidence back, and you know I was down on him a bit there despite his outstanding road record and overall stats. Igor still shows a 2.5 GAA, and maybe we all got spoiled by what he did last year claiming the Vezina Award while seemingly not letting anything past him.

Vitek Vanecek got the start against the Islanders, but he was nowhere near the ice when the game was over. Vanecek got the hook after he allowed the first four goals in the 6 – 4 loss to the Isles, and he is showing as the expected starting netminder for this tilt.