Rangers vs Red Wings Picks and Predictions: New York Rolls Through the Motor City

The New York Rangers are coming off a massive divisional win last night over the Penguins but won’t have much time to savor the victory, with a quick turnaround and travel to Detroit tonight to take on the reeling Red Wings. 

Can the Rangers keep the momentum following last night’s come-from-behind win? Can the Wings show a little life down the stretch after getting embarrassed 11-2 by Pittsburgh on Sunday? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Rangers vs. Red Wings on March 30.

Rangers vs Red Wings odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Rangers opened as -190 favorites on the ML but have lost some confidence in the market as the line sits at -145 as of Wednesday morning. The total opened at 6 but hit 6.5 early Wednesday morning. Detroit won 3-2 in a shootout in the last meeting in February with the Rangers closing as -220 favorites with a total of 5.5 and Igor Shesterkin in net. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Rangers vs Red Wings predictions

• Prediction: Rangers ML (-145)
• Prediction: Over 6.5 (+100)
• Best bet: Copp Over 0.5 points (-130)

Predictions made on 3/30/2022 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Rangers vs Red Wings game info

• Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
• Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
• Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT

Rangers vs Red Wings betting preview

Key injuries

Rangers: Ryan Strome F (Questionable), Kaapo Kakko F (Out).
Red Wings: Calvin Pickard G (Out), Marc Staal D (Questionable), Thomas Greiss G (Out), Robby Fabri F (Out). 

Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Rangers vs Red Wings head-to-head record since 2017-18

Rangers: 4-6 SU, 24 goals for.
Red Wings: 6-4 SU, 22 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 8-1 in the Red Wings’ last nine home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Red Wings.

Rangers vs Red Wings picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

The Rangers are in a giant letdown spot tonight in Detroit after a massive win over the Pens last night, which allowed them to leapfrog Pittsburgh in the standings. The now-second-place Rangers will look to continue their ascent up the Metro Division but have to beat a waiting Detroit team that got lit up and allowed 11 goals in its previous outing. The market is moving in favor of the Wings but is Detroit a good enough team to rebound this late in a lost season?

Detroit has dropped three straight games and is 2-10 SU in its last 12. The Wings have given up 56 goals over that stretch and have the league’s worst GAA at 4.83. The Penguins, Oilers, Wild, Coyotes, Panthers, and Maple Leafs have all scored at least six goals against Detroit over the last five weeks. 

We’re well aware that the public loves to fade the Rangers when Alex Georgiev is between the pipes and with Igor Shesterkin playing last night, it will likely be the backup’s crease tonight. Georgiev has won three straight starts and should be able to handle an anemic Detroit offense that is scoring just 2.42 goals per game, which is the second-lowest mark in hockey this month. 

The Rangers have also taken care of their opponents in the Atlantic this season and are 21-5 SU versus the division in their last 26 games. The additions of Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp have been outstanding, as the former has five goals in seven games, while Copp has six points in his four games as a Ranger. This New York team has become deep offensively and former first-overall pick, Alexi Lafreniere, has awoken and has eight points in as many games coming into tonight.

The Rangers aren’t a great team at 5-on-5, be neither are the Wings. Detroit sits in the Bottom 10 in most even-strength metrics including goal percentage, goals against, and goal differential. 

Looking at special teams, the Rangers have a huge advantage. The Wings’ PK has the worst efficiency this month, at a 56% kill rate, and now have to face a Rangers’ power play that is clicking at 35% over its last 14 games. New York should have its way with the Detroit PK that has allowed six PP goals over its last three games.

We understand this is a tough spot for the Rangers coming off a huge win last night and likely turning to Georgiev, but Detroit is epically bad right now. The Wings are conceding goals at an alarming rate and the offense hasn’t been good enough to make up for those mistakes. The season can’t end quick enough for the Wings. We’re fading the market again today which worked out well in the Toronto ML last night.

Prediction: Rangers moneyline (-145 at bet365)

Over/Under analysis

The books opened this game’s total at 6, which was a huge mistake as the Over was hammered immediately and hit 6.5 first thing this morning. This total could also climb higher than its current +100 price at 6.5. 

Detroit games are seeing an average of 7.24 total goals per game over the last 30 days, which is one of the highest rates in hockey. The Wings have gone 8-4-1 to the Over in March. Likely starter Alex Nedeljkovic is 11-3-1 to the Over in his last 15 starts with a 3.85 GAA and a .884 SV%. Calvin Pickard exited the Wings’ game on Sunday and is unlikely to suit up today and Thomas Greiss is injured. The Wings are thin in net.

The market’s thirst for the Over also has a lot to do with Georgiev likely drawing the start. The Rangers’ backup has a GAA north of 3.00 and a sub-.900 save percentage on the season. He has been padding the pockets of bettors who have been hitting the Over in his starts as Georgiev is 6-1 to the Over in his last seven starts. 

The icing on the cake in this game is the Rangers’ power play versus the Red Wings’ penalty kill. The Penguins scored three PP markers vs. Detroit Sunday while the Lightning scored all their goals in a 2-1 win over the Wings with the man advantage. This struggling unit will face one of the best power plays in hockey and one that has the best efficiency (30%) since January 1. 

Georgiev’s skill makes up for the Wings’ lack of offense of late while the Rangers could certainly go out and score six goals tonight versus the Wings who have been giving up touchdowns this month.

Prediction: Over 6.5 (+100 at bet365)

Best bet

Andrew Copp has slid into this lineup and produced results immediately. He’s played just four games with his new club and has totaled a goal and five assists over that stretch including at least one point in each game. He’s playing on one of the top lines with Artemi Panarin riding on his wing and is getting PP1 time, as well. 

Teams have been lighting up the Red Wings all month and scoring in bunches. It should be point night for the Rangers and Copp is in a very advantageous role to continue this point streak. We could easily see him get a power-play point with how bad the Wings’ PK has been but getting his Over 0.5 point total at -130 is the safer play for us. 

Pick: Andrew Copp Over 0.5 points (-130)

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