NHL: New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks, and predictions

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers will square off at Madison Square Garden on Thursday in game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round of the NHL Playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking for a second straight road victory to establish a commanding 2-0 series lead. The New York Rangers need to win this game in order to even the series at one game apiece. They are averaging 4 goals per game and scoring on 25 percent of their power play opportunities this season. Pittsburgh Penguins Jake Guentzel leads the Penguins with two goals and two assists, while Bryan Rust has two assists and Kasperi Kapanen has eight shots on goal. The Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3 goals per game on defense and are killing 0 percent of their opponent's power-play opportunities on the ice. When confronted with 17 shots, Louis Domingue has allowed no goals, while Casey DeSmith has conceded three goals on 51 shots faced.

The New York Rangers are averaging three goals a game and are converting on all of their power play opportunities (100 percent of them). Chris Kreider leads the New York Rangers with one goal and two assists, while Ryan Strome has eight shots on goal. Mika Zibanejad also has two assists. The New York Rangers are surrendering four goals a game on defense, but also killing 75 percent of their opponents' power play opportunities on the ice. Igor Shesterkin has conceded four goals on 83 shots faced in his career.

The Penguins have gone 2-5 in their past seven road games and are 2-6 in their last eight games as underdogs this season. Rangers are 50-19 in their previous 69 games as favorites and 1-4 in their last 5 games overall, according to Sports Reference. In the Penguins' last 18 road games, the under has gone 12-5-1. Underdogs have gone 4-1 in the Rangers' previous 5 games when they are favored. The Penguins have gone 1-4 in their last five games with the Rangers in New York.

New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins predictions

My Pick: New York Rangers