Colorado Avalanche vs New York Rangers

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have already torched the Rangers once this season, combining for four goals in Colorado’s 6-3 win in Denver, and they roll into MSG after a 17-game point streak was snapped by the Islanders, while New York counters on a modest two-game surge following wins over Dallas and Ottawa. The Avalanche’s 19-2-6 record, league-best goal differential of roughly +50, and top-ranked offense and defense through 26–27 games underscore just how far ahead they are of a Rangers team that’s still below water overall and just 3-8-1 at home despite strong road results. With Colorado essentially at full star power — MacKinnon, Makar, Landeskog, Nichushkin and Necas all active — their only notable absences are depth pieces (Scott Wedgewood, Gavin Brindley and Logan O’Connor), whereas New York is missing cornerstone defenseman Adam Fox and backup Jonathan Quick, leaving Igor Shesterkin to shoulder an even heavier load behind a makeshift blue line. Historically, this matchup has tilted toward Colorado’s high-end talent: Makar and MacKinnon each scored twice in last month’s 6-3 win, and Makar had a two-goal, three-point performance with MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen driving a 5-4 Avalanche victory at MSG back in January, with Mackenzie Blackwood making 33 saves. Given the disparity in underlying team strength, the Avs’ proven head-to-head edge, and the Rangers’ home struggles and injuries, Colorado at -170 is expensive but still playable, earning an A- grade for high win probability and solid but not spectacular value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 06/12/2025 09:23am

Colorado’s profile screams offense in this spot: they led the league with 106 goals and only 53 against through 26 games before the 6-3 loss to the Isles, averaging just over four goals per night and pushing pace in virtually every rink, while New York has quietly heated up with recent outputs of 6 at Boston, 4 at Carolina, and back-to-back three- and four-goal efforts against Dallas and Ottawa. The head-to-head history is also tilted toward fireworks, with the last two meetings finishing 6-3 and 5-4 in favor of the Avalanche, driven by repeat multi-point nights from MacKinnon, Makar and Lehkonen on one side and Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad keeping New York within striking distance on the other. Defensively, Colorado remains structurally elite, but they’re in a mini-correction phase after surrendering six to the Islanders, and they’re starting Mackenzie Blackwood while Scott Wedgewood nurses a back issue; on the Rangers’ side, losing Adam Fox from the back end has hurt their breakout and penalty kill, and Jonathan Quick’s absence reduces margin for any off night from Shesterkin. Add in the Rangers’ poor 3-8-1 home record — often forcing them to chase games and open up — and Colorado’s lethal power play against a banged-up New York blue line, and Over 6 at -110 looks like the right lean, though a 4-2 or 3-3 push scenario keeps the confidence level at a B rather than higher. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 06/12/2025 09:23am

With Colorado looking to bounce back from that rare regulation loss and New York riding a two-game win streak, the most likely script still favors the Avalanche on the scoreboard but leaves room for a tight margin that makes Rangers +1.5 attractive despite the heavy price. The Rangers have been far better on the road than at MSG this year, yet even at home their games against top opposition tend to stay within a goal — including last season’s 5-4 thriller here where Lehkonen scored in the final seconds, and the current Rangers core (Panarin, Zibanejad, Trocheck, Lafrenière) has generally managed to trade chances with Colorado’s stars even while losing the results battle. Significant injuries tilt the matchup overall toward the Avs — Fox and Quick sidelined for New York versus mainly depth absences for Colorado — but the presence of Shesterkin and a deeper forward group that now includes J.T. Miller and several young energy pieces should help the Rangers avoid getting blown out, especially in an early-start home spot where the favorite may manage the game with a back-to-back looming. Given Colorado’s dominance and superior five-on-five metrics, laying the puckline with the Avs offers plus money but carries real blowout-or-bust dynamics, whereas grabbing New York +1.5 at -170 prioritizes outcome probability over price; that balance earns the underdog puckline a B- grade for safety with limited value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 06/12/2025 09:23am