Rangers vs Canucks Hockey Betting?
One of the more bizarre coach swaps in NHL history writes another chapter Tuesday night when Alain Vigneault guides his New York Rangers into Vancouver to take on his former team the Vancouver Canucks and New York’s former coach John Tortarella.
CLICK TO GRAB OUR BEST Expert NHL Picks for 2014 HOCKEY Betting!
NY Rangers (42-30-2-2) at Vancouver (34-31-4-7)
When: 10:00 PM ET, Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Broadcast: TSN, RDS2, MSG
Rangers vs. Canucks Betting Lines
New York Rangers -1½ +230 -127 Ov 5 -120
Vancouver Canucks +1½ -275 +115 Un 5 +109
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Two Coaches Look For Revenge Against Former Teams – Rangers Visit Canucks Tuesday Night
The Rangers are the team that have gotten the better of the coaching switch – the Rangers are two points up on Philadelphia, which has two games in hand, for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division while the Canucks are five points out of the second wild-card spot with six games to go.
The Canucks may look like the team with less to play for on Tuesday night but the team would love nothing more than to beat their old coach and slow down a Rangers team that is surging up the Eastern Conference standings as we head into the final two weeks of the season.
*CLICK HERE* GRAB Razor Ray’s NHL Hockey Picks for 2014 GAMBLING season!
New York won the only meeting of the season between the teams so far – emerging victorious 5-2 at Madison Square Gardens on November 30.
The New York Rangers have won five of their last six games entering Tuesday night’s contest – they are playing very well as the playoffs loom. The Rangers are one of the best road teams in the NHL this season – they are 24-14-0 on the road this year – as comfortable at home as they are on the road.
Offensively the Rangers have averaged 2.64 goals per game this season but they have picked up the offense recently.
Derek Stepan has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in his past 17 games, Derick Brassard scored his career-high 18th goal Sunday and has five goals in his past seven games, Rick Nash has five goals in his past seven games, Mats Zuccarello has three points in two games, Benoit Pouliot has four points in four games and Rafael Diaz who came over to New York at the trade deadline from Vancouver has two points in two games. T
[ad-4437448]
he scoring has been balanced and the offense has been one of the better units in the game down the stretch.
Henrik Lundqvist should be back between the pipes Tuesday after Cam Talbot earned the win in Edmonton Sunday. Lundqvist has shut the Canucks out in his last two starts against them and is 7-3-0 in his last 10 games with a 1.90 GAA and .935 save percentage. He, like the rest of the team is rounding into form as the regular season comes to a close.
The Vancouver Canucks’ three game win streak came to a crashing halt on Saturday with a 5-1 home loss to the Anaheim Ducks. That loss acted as another nail in the coffin of Vancouver’s slim playoff hopes this year.
Vancouver continues to struggle to score goals although some of the role players have stepped up and played well down the stretch. The team averages 2.36 goals per game and will be without Henrik Sedin once again Tuesday night – not a good sign. Zack Kassian is on a four-game scoring streak (2-5-7), Brad Richardson has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past five games, David Booth has four points in four games and Dan Hamhuis has two points in two games.
That’s the good news – now is time for the bad! Alex Burrows, Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa are each pointless in their last four games and Jason Garrison hasn’t recorded a point in eight games. Vancouver’s power play is clipping along at a meager 15% with next to no relief in sight.
Goaltending continues to be a bit of a sore spot in Vancouver – as inconsistent as the rest of the team. Eddie Lack was on a bit of a roll at this time last week but he is just 0-1-1 in his last two starts with a 3.97 GAA and .837 save percentage.
Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 6-2 in NYR last 8 games following a win.
• NYR are 22-8 in their last 30 road games.
• NYR are 4-10 in their last 14 Tue. games.
• Under is 5-1-2 in VAN last 8 Tue. games.
• Over is 6-2 in VAN last 8 overall.
• VAN are 7-16 in their last 23 overall.
• NYR are 4-9 in the last 13 meetings.
If there is ever a game that the Vancouver Canucks should be able to get up for – it is one against their former boss. But the Canucks are a shadow of the team that Alain Vigneault led to five 100 point seasons and one Stanley Cup final appearance. The Rangers are in playoff mode already, looking good during their streak of five wins in six games. It is hard to imagine a let-down for New York at this point of the season.
Pick: New York Rangers -127
