The New York Rangers and Calgary Flames are back from the All-Star break and facing off against each other for the first time since November 2021.
The Rangers went into the break looking pretty good after going 6-2-2 in their previous 10 games. The Flames weren’t looking too shabby either, winning three out of their last four contests.
Calgary has gotten the best of the Rangers in recent history, winning the last five meetings between the two dating back to 2018. Can New York flip the script tonight?
Here is my best bet in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for Rangers vs. Flames on February 6.
Flames vs Rangers best odds
Flames vs Rangers picks and predictions
The Rangers are sitting in a decent spot while occupying third place in the Metropolitan division with 62 points. But the Washington Capitals are chasing them for that slot, which means that every point matters.
The Calgary Flames aren’t in as good of a position. They're tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild-card spot with 57 points, so the team will be as desperate as it gets.
The Rangers were looking pretty good on home ice before the break, winning their last two contests at Madison Square Garden by a combined score of 10-3. But the Flames have won three of their last four road games, so being away from home doesn’t necessarily rattle them.
These two teams have been enduring very similar seasons. Neither squad is exceeding expectations, but the Flames and Rangers aren't really disappointing either. The difference is going to be goaltending.
It appears Jaroslav Halak will be getting the start on Monday for the Rangers. He's won six out of his last seven starts while really picking up his game.
Jacob Markstrom has been nowhere near as good as he was in 2021-22. He posted a 13-13-5 record with a .893 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average. He's also produced a +1.2 goals saved above expected.
The Rangers get the edge in this spot, even if Halak receives the nod. He's certainly played up to the part lately, and getting them at a pick 'em is a great price.
My best bet: Rangers ML (-110 at BetMGM)
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Flames vs Rangers moneyline analysis
Going with Halak instead of Igor Shesterkin is a great move from head coach Gerard Gallant after the latter participated in All-Star weekend festivities. Halak endured a rough start to the season, but he's been incredible in recent starts and now enters this game with a 6-6-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.56 goals-against average. He's more than capable of leading the Rangers to a win on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames aren't the team they were last year after losing Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, and Mackenzie Weegar. Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau haven’t performed close to what was expected. If the Flames are going to make the playoffs, they need those two to step it up a bit.
The Rangers' top guns have been much better. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Adam Fox have been outstanding, and they should help to lift this team up in the second half of the season. Fox and Panarin are returning from the All-Star break feeling great about themselves, and they'll surely impact this game a lot.
Flames vs Rangers Over/Under analysis
I'm not a fan of the 5.5 totals, especially with the high scoring in today’s NHL. This isn’t the greatest goaltending matchup, so definitely steer away from the Under.
The Rangers enter this game averaging 3.16 goals per contest, and the Flames are right behind them while scoring 3.12 per game. New York’s offense was looking good going into the All-Star break, and I expect the Rangers to pick up right where they left off. The same goes for Calgary.
I don’t trust the goaltenders at all to keep this game low scoring, and the 5.5 always feels too low.
Flames vs Rangers betting trend to know
The favorite is 4-1 in the last five meetings between the two teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs Rangers.
Flames vs Rangers game info
| Location: | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date: | Monday, February 6, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG |
Flames vs Rangers key injuries
