It’s yet another famous encounter between arguably the biggest rivals in the league as the New York Islanders are set to host the Rangers at the MetLife Stadium. The two teams are facing off for the first time this season and are widely in two different places in the league. Rangers have taken the league by storm, while the Islanders seem to be struggling. However, the Battle of New York can take any turn, irrespective of form! Find out who’s tipped to come out victorious below.

The New York Rangers have showcased remarkable prowess this season, dominating the ice with their exceptional performance. Holding the prestigious position of first in the metropolitan division, they have carved out an impressive six-game winning streak, leaving their opponents in awe. Conversely, the New York Islanders are grappling with a challenging season. Currently occupying the fifth spot in the Metropolitan division, they are amidst a turbulent period, enduring a two-game losing streak. Adding to the anticipation, the impending showdown between these rivals holds significant weight, as they last clashed in 2022. The anticipation among fans has reached a fever pitch, fueled by the prolonged absence of this intense rivalry on the ice. 

The match is scheduled to start at 15:00 ET on Sunday, 18 January 2024. The game time by GMT is 08:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday, January 18. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Betting tips and match predictions for the New York Rangers vs New York Islanders (January 18) game are available in this article. The latest betting odds, key stats, team news, and projected starting lineups are previewed below.

New York Rangers vs New York Islanders latest odds on betting sites 

The New York Rangers’ moneyline odds are priced at 1.67 (-149 American), while the New York Islanders’ moneyline odds are priced at 2.25 (+125 American). 

Over/Under:

Over 5.5 points: 1.91 (-110)

Under 5.5 points: 1.91 (-110)

Spread:

New York Rangers -1.5: 2.60 (+160)

New York Islanders +1.5: 1.50 (-200)

New York Islanders vs New York Rangers match preview and statistics

The Islanders lost at home to the Kraken

Tuesday night at UBS Arena, the New York Islanders narrowly avoided a 2-1 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken. Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves while Kyle Palmieri scored for the Islanders, who have now dropped their last two games.

With his incredible saves, Sorokin kept the Islanders in the game. One of his major plays came when he split to make a stop and then robbed Jordan Eberle, the forward for the Krakens, on the rebound. The Islanders would have been obliterated if it weren’t for him.

The additional point helps during a critical stretch where every point counts to advance to the postseason, but the Islanders didn’t move up in the Metropolitan division rankings. With 23 turnovers, the Islanders gave Seattle excellent opportunities, which was one of the reasons they struggled in this game, and the coach emphasized the need to tidy the puck post-game.

The New York Islanders team news: Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo is placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. At the same time, right winger Hudson Fasching’s availability for this game is uncertain.

The Rangers eased past the Canadiens

With a season-high sixth straight win on Thursday, the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 7-4, led by hat-trick-scoring Chris Kreider. The Winger scored his first hat trick in about two years in that game.

Zibanejad gave Kreider two assists in addition to his own goal. Jonathan Quick made 31 saves, Artemi Panarin had three assists, and Adam Fox had four. Vincent Trocheck, Kaapo Kakko, and Will Cuylle also scored.

After Montreal grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, the Rangers tied their season best in goals scored with four goals in 4:10 of the second period. It was one of those games for the Rangers where they were untouchable! 

The New York Rangers team news: Defenseman Ben Harpur and Filip Chytil will not be available for the 2023–24 campaign due to an upper-body injury and have been placed on the injured reserves.

New York Islanders vs New York Rangers H2H

The Battle of New York has taken place 78 times. The Islanders have dominated this series with 43 wins, while the Rangers have only triumphed 35 times. The last time they faced off, the Rangers won 5-3.

Rangers vs Islanders key players

Chris Kreider, who will be incredibly confident heading into this game after scoring a hat trick against the Canadiens, is key to the Rangers getting something out of this game. Chris Kreider’s impact on the team is undeniable. With 27 goals, 24 assists, and a +17 plus-minus in just 54 games this season, he’s more than just numbers. Kreider’s scoring ability, playmaking skills, and defensive reliability make him indispensable. 

Ilya Sorokin’s ability to deny opponent scoring efforts is why the Islanders have a chance against any team, which is why his goals-against average (GAA) of 3.04 is not commensurate with his performance. With a save % of.911, he demonstrates his ability to deflect shots and stop goals, giving his teammates and supporters hope. Sorokin is one of the few goalies with a .9 and above save percentage. 

New York Rangers vs New York Islanders predictions

With their arsenal of weapons, the Rangers will be able to launch a successful offense thanks to an almost healthy squad. The last time out, the Rangers’ offense put seven past their opponents. Even with Sorokin between the sticks, the Islanders’ defense will have problems keeping this offense at bay.

Currently, on a two-game losing streak, the New York Islanders have won two of their last five games while conceding more than 1.5 goals per contest on average.  The Islanders have scored only three goals in their previous two games, and we don’t see them outscoring the Rangers. The Rangers should win here.

Predictions for the game are the New York Rangers to win and under 5.5 points.

Betting prediction: New York Rangers to win

Odds: 1.67 (-149 American)

Betting prediction: Under 5.5 points

Odds: 1.91 (-110 American)