NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Game Preview
The Pittsburgh Penguins head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with puck drop set for 12:30 PM ET on ABC. Pittsburgh is 30-15-12 and sitting near the top of the Metro, and the Penguins have been playing like a team that’s finally comfortable in its own skin. The Rangers are 22-30-7, stuck in a long skid, and they’re looking for anything that feels stable heading into the trade deadline.
Pittsburgh has been a scoring machine for weeks, and it’s been happening even with Sidney Crosby out. That’s the part that gets your attention as a bettor. They’ve won nine of the last 10, and a lot of those wins have come with margin. The Rangers, meanwhile, just dropped a fifth straight and they’ve been held to two goals or fewer over and over again during this slide. Even when they get a lead, it hasn’t been safe.
This is also the season-series closer, and Pittsburgh has already taken two of the first three meetings. So New York is not only fighting the standings, they’re also fighting the recent matchup history.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated prices and shop numbers throughout the day using the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins | -117 | -1.5 (+213) | O 6.0 (-110) / U 6.0 (-112) |
| New York Rangers | +100 | +1.5 (-265) | O 6.0 (-110) / U 6.0 (-112) |
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Form
Pittsburgh’s run is the kind that forces you to stop treating them like a streak team and start treating them like a profile. They’re 9-1-2 over their last 12, and they’re not just squeaking out wins. They’re scoring four-plus regularly, and they’ve been doing it with different contributors. Evgeni Malkin is driving a lot of the playmaking right now, and they’ve gotten real finishing from players who weren’t on the radar early in the season.
The big betting note is that Crosby being out hasn’t slowed them down. That can’t last forever, but it does matter in this specific matchup because the Rangers are struggling to generate offense consistently. If Pittsburgh gets even average goaltending and keeps playing with pace, they can dictate large chunks of the game, and that’s when the Rangers start defending more than they want.
If you want the quick trend check, the Pittsburgh Penguins stats and results page helps. Availability matters here, so monitor the Pittsburgh Penguins injury report before puck drop.
New York Rangers Betting Form
The Rangers are in a rough place, and the biggest issue is not just losing, it’s how often they’re not scoring enough to climb out of trouble. They’ve lost five straight, they’re 2-11-2 in their last 15, and they’ve been held to two goals or fewer repeatedly. That’s a hard way to live in the NHL, because one bad bounce becomes a loss.
There are a couple “maybe it turns” angles. Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox are back, and in theory that should stabilize things. But timing matters. Players returning from long absences often need a few games to look like themselves, and New York doesn’t have much runway left before the deadline and the season gets reframed. If the Rangers are going to show urgency, it probably has to show early in a home matinee, because falling behind against this Pittsburgh team is a bad script.
For recent results and home splits, the New York Rangers schedule and stats page is the clean reference. And because availability is still a factor, monitor the New York Rangers injury report before betting.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Matchup Breakdown
This matchup starts with game state. Pittsburgh has been getting leads and playing fast with confidence. New York has been giving up momentum swings, especially at home, and they’ve struggled to answer when the other team finds the next goal. If the Penguins score first, it forces the Rangers into risk, and that’s where Pittsburgh can turn this into a multi-goal game with rush chances.
Special teams matter too, mostly because New York can’t afford to waste power plays in a low-confidence offensive stretch. The Rangers need something easy, and power-play goals are the easiest way to get it. Pittsburgh’s penalty kill and structure have been strong enough lately that they’re not giving teams many freebies. If this stays mostly five-on-five, I trust Pittsburgh’s current form more.
The total is interesting at 6.0 because Pittsburgh can do a lot of the work itself, but New York’s offense has been unreliable. That creates a common scenario where the favorite wins 4-1 or 4-2, and you’re sweating whether the Rangers can contribute enough to get the game over the number. If New York scores early, the Over becomes much more live. If they don’t, the Under starts to look safer even with Pittsburgh’s scoring.
If you want a sharper way to translate streak form, pace, and game state into betting decisions, the NHL betting guide is useful. And if you’re thinking about how teams get priced as the deadline approaches and roles change quickly, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps with that bigger picture.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Pittsburgh moneyline at -117. It’s not a huge number, and it fits the handicap. The Penguins are in form, they’re scoring with depth, and the Rangers are still trying to stabilize. Even with Shesterkin and Fox back, I’m not eager to bet that New York suddenly flips the switch against a hot division rival.
I’m less interested in Pittsburgh -1.5. The plus price is attractive, but rivalry games and matinees can land tight, and New York’s best chance is to grind this into a one-goal script where Shesterkin can hold the line. If you like Pittsburgh, the moneyline is the cleaner way to bet it without needing a specific margin.
On the total, I lean Under 6.0. It’s not because Pittsburgh can’t score. It’s because New York’s offense has been too inconsistent, and the most likely Pittsburgh win script is something like 3-2 or 4-1 where the Rangers don’t contribute enough to push it over. If you expect a “back at home, desperation game” from the Rangers, you can argue Over, but I’d rather see it before I bet it.
Best Bet: Pittsburgh Penguins moneyline (-117).
UP TO $250 BONUS BET
The Best Live In-Game Betting
21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting NHL nightly, this is the time of year where timing and comparison are everything. Goalies, late scratches, and deadline noise can move numbers quickly, so checking today’s NHL picks is a good way to compare multiple approaches before you lock in a bet.
ScoresAndStats keeps everything transparent. You can compare different styles on the top sports handicappers, validate long-term performance on the handicapper leaderboard, and if you want more volume beyond the free board, you can buy expert picks and keep your slate organized. For more daily matchup breakdowns in this exact format, the NHL previews hub is the clean way to stay on top of the board.
