Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and New York Rangers center Sam Carrick (39) battle for the puck during the third period at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh Feb. 23.

The Pittsburgh Penguins face the New York Rangers in each team's season opener Tuesday. Puck drop from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York, is set for 8:05 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Penguins vs. Rangers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

2024-25 season series: Rangers won 3-1

C Sidney Crosby leads this squad coming off his fourth straight 30-goal season. The Pens have been plagued by depth and goaltending in recent seasons. Both will be tested from the go, as RW Bryan Rust (lower body) is out at least the first 10 days. He had a career-high 31 goals last season. They brought in veteran LW Anthony Mantha in the offseason, and he scored 20 goals 2 years ago. G Arturs Silovs comes over from Vancouver. He was underwhelming last year after a dynamite playoff run 2 seasons ago.

The Rangers come into the season without one of their top scorers from last year. RW Chris Kreider was shipped to Anaheim in the offseason. They signed bruising D Vladislav Gavrikov, who essentially replaces D Jacob Trouba, whom the Rangers sent to Anaheim last year. LW Artemi Panarin (lower body) is good to go after going down in the preseason. He had 49 and 37 goals the last 2 years. As always, newly extended G Igor Shesterkin is between the pipes.

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Penguins at Rangers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:40 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Penguins +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Rangers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-130) | Rangers -1.5 (+105)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Penguins at Rangers projected goalies

Arturs Silovs (2-6-1, 3.65 GAA, .861 SV% in '24-25) vs. Igor Shesterkin (27-29-5, 2.86 GAA, .905 SV%, 6 SO in '24-25)

After a magical postseason run in '23-24, Silovs crumbled under breakout expectations last year. He allowed 15 goals in his first 3 starts and spent much of the year in the AHL before being traded in the offseason. He faced the Rangers Nov. 19 and allowed 4 goals on 33 shots in a 4-3 loss.

Shesterkin had his worst season in the league last year with a .905 SV%. The Rangers shored up their D-corps in hopes of helping him out. He didn't need it in his first start of the season against the Pens last year, saving all 31 shots in a 6-0 shutout. He went 3-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .932 SV% in 4 starts against the Pens last year.

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Penguins at Rangers picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 4, Penguins 2

Moneyline

The Pens are really hamstrung without Rust on their top line, so I like the Rangers at home, but not at -225.

Instead, give me WILL CUYLE OVER 1.5 SHOTS (-160). He has moved up to the top line and had 2+ SOG in the last 7 games last year.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Rangers went 3-1-0 against Pittsburgh last year, and their wins were 5-3, 4-2 and 6-0.

Give me the RANGERS -1.5 (+105).

Over/Under

We're projecting a push here, so give me the ALTERNATE UNDER 6.5 (-140). The Rangers are adjusting to some different players on the top line, and Panarin missed a lot of time in camp. Meanwhile, Rust is one of Pittsburgh's top scorers and is out.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Ryan Dodson, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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