According to the bookmakers, no series in Round 1 is tougher to call than the latest installment of the Hudson River Rivalry.
The bookies have essentially priced this contest as a coin flip — the Devils are slight -120 favorites thanks to home-ice advantage — and the sentiment around the sport matches the market.But as tight as these odds suggest this series will be, the reasons for backing the Devils orIf you see value on the Devils, it’s likely that you put some stock into their statistical edge at 5-on-5.
The Rangers, on the other hand, finished the year ranked 23rd in expected goals-for percentage and 22nd in high-danger scoring chance rate. They’re perfectly comfortable — in most cases — to allow their opponents to control play and bet on their star players to convert the chances they create while at the same time relying on Igor Shesterkin to be the difference in goal.NHLI via Getty Images
Of course this formula works only if the Rangers have the edge in goal, which they certainly do in this case. That’s nothing against Vanecek, who posted a solid .910 save percentage and a +13.3 Goals Saved Above Expected in 52 appearances, but there’s no doubting who is the better goaltender in this battle.
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