New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The new NHL season is up and running and Wednesday night's loaded slate of games features the New York Rangers' trip to the PPG Paints Arena to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Rangers could still be thinking of what might have been after they fell in the Eastern Conference finals to the Florida Panthers last season, with five of the six games against the eventual champions decided by a single goal and three of them going to overtime.

For Pittsburgh, after their long 16-year run of making the playoffs was snapped in 2022/23, it was a second successive year of missing out on the postseason after its late surge faltered - losing three of the last five games to fall three points short of the last Wild Card.

Both teams will be looking to make a fast start on Wednesday night as they look to make up for last season's respective disappointments and we could be in for a great early-season tilt between Eastern Conference rivals.

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins betting picks and predictions

New York Rangers ML (-140)

The New York Rangers posted franchise records for wins and points last season under Peter Laviolette as they took the Presidents' Trophy for the fourth time. Their 55-23-4 record for 114 points put them three points clear of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference, and one better than the Dallas Stars out West.

And after reaching the Conference Finals in two of the last three years, the Rangers have kept faith with the vast majority of the roster as they look to take that next step and end their 30-year wait for the Stanley Cup.

New York were good at both ends of the ice last season, ranking seventh for goals scored with 278, while only six teams allowed fewer than their tally of 226. With a settled roster, there is little evidence to suggest there will be different expectations this time around.

Artemi Panarin was the jewel in the crown for the Rangers last season, setting career-best tallies for goals (49) and points (120) but there was plenty of support with four other players contributing at least 72 points, and the all-around offensive threat is clear for all to see.

Between the pipes, New York has one of the best goaltenders around with Igor Shesterkin key to their chances of going all the way. The Russian goalie won the Vezina Trophy in 2021/22 and is listed as the +550 favorite to win it for the second time this season.

There is obvious quality in the Pittsburgh Penguins ranks, particularly with superstar Sidney Crosby still going strong, but his window of elite play is closing as he enters his 20th season, and it is not obvious that he has the necessary supporting cast to compete for his fourth Stanley Cup.

Crosby demonstrated his vital importance to the Penguins last season, leading the team in goals (42), assists (52) and points (94), although Pittsburgh struggled as a team in support of its captain, ranking only 18th for goals scored.

Reilly Smith (traded to the Rangers) and Jeff Carter (retired) are no longer on the roster and while the likes of Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier and Rutger McGroarty have been brought in, they may take time to settle. There are plenty of concerns about their powerplay, which ranked third-worst last season at 15.3 percent, and the inconsistencies of goaltender Tristan Jarry, who went 19-25-5 last season.

The Penguins won the most recent meeting between the two, winning 5-2 at Madison Square Garden in April as part of their late push for a playoff spot, but the Rangers had won the previous four games, including both at the PPG Paints Arena last season.

Alexis Lafreniere over 0.5 points (-135)

Alexis Lafreniere posted career-best tallies of 28 goals, 29 assists and 57 points last season, and it is far from beyond the realms of possibility that those numbers will continue to rise as he gains more experience in the NHL.

The 22-year-old looks good value to notch at least a point in the season opener, while his odds of scoring a goal are also tempting at +300.

Lafreniere is expected to spend a good portion of his time on the ice alongside the leading point scorers for the Rangers last season, Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, while he will also be involved on the power play.

The first-overall draft pick in 2020 contributed a point in two of the three games he played against the Penguins last season, both at PPG Paints Arena, and with an expectation that his career continues on an upward trajectory, he can play his part on Wednesday night.

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New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins odds

New York Rangers	-140 ML
Pittsburgh Penguins	+120 ML
Puck Line	NY Rangers -1.5
Total Goals	O/U 6.0

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Artemi Panarin (NY Rangers)	+180
Vincent Trocheck (NY Rangers)	+200
Chris Kreider (NY Rangers)	+200
Sidney Crosby (PIT Penguins)	+200
Bryan Rust (PIT Penguins)	+280
Evgeni Malkin (PIT Penguins)	+280

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.