Penguins Vs Rangers: penguins vs rangers Game Preview, Odds and Picks
The Pittsburgh Penguins visit Madison Square Garden for a Saturday matinee that matters for both clubs: penguins vs rangers is set for Feb. 28 with a 12: 30 p. m. ET puck drop. The matchup pairs a Penguins club chasing points late in the season against a Rangers team still searching for its first win since the Olympic break after a 3-2 overtime loss at home.
Penguins Vs Rangers Key Matchups
The season series has been tightly contested. The teams split in October when the Penguins won 3-0 in New York but then lost 6-1 at home five days later. The Pens edged the Rangers 6-5 at home on Jan. 31, leaving this matchup with recent high-scoring outcomes for both clubs.
Rangers forward group listed includes top-line names centered around two primary playmakers, followed by secondary lines featuring a mix of younger wingers and established depth. Their goaltending tandem is listed as Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Squick. Potential scratches are noted as Urho Vaakanainen, Jonny Brodzinski and Scott Morrow, with Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe on injured reserve.
Pittsburgh’s forward depth lines span a mix of established scorers and role players. The Penguins’ goaltenders are listed as Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner. Potential scratches for the Penguins include Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves and Ilya Solovyov.
penguins vs rangers Prediction Odds
The game is scheduled for 12: 30 p. m. ET at Madison Square Garden. Recent coverage of the matchup lists an ATS pick favoring the Rangers (+1. 5), an Over/Under set at 5. 5 with an Over lean, and a straight-score prediction of Rangers 4, Penguins 3.
Those market views intersect with team indicators: Pittsburgh entered the pairing at 30-15-12 for 72 points and sits second in the Metropolitan Division, while New York is 22-29-7 with 51 points in eighth place in the same division. The Rangers’ home performance stands out as a clear factor — they are tied for the fewest home points and fewest home wins (six) after a 6-15-5 record at Madison Square Garden. By contrast, the Penguins rank sixth in road wins with a 16-7-5 mark away from home. Those numbers frame why the listed prediction is narrow and why a modest edge to the Rangers on the spread appears in recent picks: home advantage is muted by the Rangers’ struggles at MSG, while Pittsburgh’s road form is a measurable plus.
Schedule Context and What to Watch
Pittsburgh’s calendar is busy: the Penguins are slated to return home for a 1 p. m. ET matchup with another opponent tomorrow and then play five games over the next nine days. That compressed schedule makes lineup health and short-term rest key variables; the Penguins will be managing minutes and travel as they try to maintain momentum.
For the Rangers, the immediate storyline is the search for a post-Olympic-break reset after surrendering a 2-0 lead in what became a 3-2 overtime loss on Thursday. Home-ice inconsistencies — reflected in the team’s 6-15-5 mark at Madison Square Garden — are the clearest actionable indicator for this game. If those home trends persist, the Penguins’ road success could determine the result; if the Rangers stabilize at home, the recent pick lines could swing the other way.
Key takeaways
- Game time: 12: 30 p. m. ET on Feb. 28 at Madison Square Garden.
- Standings: Penguins 30-15-12 (72 points); Rangers 22-29-7 (51 points).
- Odds and picks in recent coverage favor a close, higher-scoring game (ATS: Rangers +1. 5; O/U: Over 5. 5; predicted score: Rangers 4, Penguins 3).
With lineups, home/road splits and a compact upcoming schedule in plain view, the matchup offers clear metrics to watch at puck drop: goaltender deployment, special teams performance and whether the Rangers can translate home ice into consistent results. If any of those indicators move decisively in either direction during the game, they will likely decide the outcome.
