Best NHL Prop Bets Today: Back the Rangers Defense to Bounce Back Against Chicago

After entering the year listed as one of the betting favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship, the New York Rangers odds have steadily declined as they continue to fall down the wildcard standings. Luckily for the Rangers, they get a favorable matchup against the lowly Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night to help spark a hot stretch of play and stop their free fall down the board.

At the same time as their puck drop, we also focus on the matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres as there should be plenty of scoring opportunities against two regressing defenses. Both back lines have struggled to play at a competitive level this season as both clubs enter the contest ranked well below league average in Expected Goals Against in All Situations.

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Chicago Blackhawks vs. New York Rangers - Prop Bets (7:00 PM, EST)

New York Rangers Puck Line -1.5 (+105) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and Carolina Hurricanes continuing to generate points at a high rate, the Rangers are in desperate need of sparking a hot stretch of play in order to remain in contention for the Metropolitan division title. In order to do so, their back line must quickly elevate their level of play as the Rangers defense currently ranks 28th overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations with an average of 3.42 Expected Goals Against per game.

Fortunately for the Rangers, their back line gets the benefit of defending against the worst offense in the league in terms of Expected Goals For in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. That gives former Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin the opportunity to round back into form, neutralizing the Blackhawks scoring production in the process. Factor in New York’s offense still generating Expected Goals at a high rate and the Rangers will be in a great position to cover the puck line.

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Chris Kreider Anytime Goalscorer (+175) at Caesars Sportsbook

As for who will do the scoring for the Rangers to help cover the puck line, Chris Kreider continues to generate high quality scoring opportunities at a consistent rate as he enters the contest averaging 0.50 Expected Goals and 2.73 Shots on Goal per game. With the Blackhawks back line struggling to stay in front of the puck and limit the number of opposing shot attempts being sent towards their net, expect an uptick in Shots on Goal for Kreider to help bolster his chances of scoring his 11th goal of the season.

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Detroit Red Wings vs. Buffalo Sabres - Prop Bets (7:00 PM, EST)

Alternate Over 6.5 (+110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With Patrick Kane back from injury, the Detroit Red Wings offense gets another productive player in their front line to help spread out their offensive attack. While he has yet to make an impact since taking the ice, his presence still helps create space for their other forwards to exploit. That bodes well for their efforts of recapturing last year’s success as the Red Wings offense currently ranks 29th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 2.77 Expected Goals per game.

While the Red Wings offense is expected to round back into form, their defensive woes are poised to persist after neglecting to add to their back line throughout the offseason. That gives the Buffalo Sabres offense a great opportunity to match the Red Wings scoring pace, potentially resulting in a high scoring affair. On top of taking the full game over, escalator bet the alternate overs by placing smaller wagers on each total up to 8.5.

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Alex DeBrincat Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-114) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Buffalo’s back line has also struggled to play at a competitive level as the Sabres defense enters the contest ranked 20th overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. That bodes well for the Red Wings Alex DeBrincat who has been one of their most consistent sources of offensive production, giving him the opportunity to pressure the Sabres net with an uptick in Shots on Goal. Facor in Kane commanding defensive attention and DeBrincat should be presented with higher quality shooting lanes as well.

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