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Posted at 12:30 PM EST.

10:35 PM EST. We’ve written about the Rangers a few times already this year, citing them to be one of the NHL’s most undervalued squads. Unfortunately, we missed them in San Jose on Tuesday as a big underdog but that’s just another example of the Rags not being an easy out. This is a well-coached, balanced team with dangerous playmakers all over the place. Defensively, they have flaws but there are 30 other teams in the league that would be salivating over having Brady Skjei and Neal Pionk on their blueline. That win over San Jose and near win in L.A. against the Kings the game previous has the Rags looking more confident and also feeling pretty good about their progress these days. Reports out of practice are good too, as things are spirited every day. The Rags’ players love their new coach.

Then there’s the Anaheim Ducks and their one-man show. That one man show is named John Gibson. The Ducks might be winless this year (0-13) if not for Gibson but make no mistake that Anaheim is the worst team in the NHL and it’s not close. Whether you like or believe in analytics or not, it does not matter because the Ducks are the second best team on the ice in every game they play in. They are the worst puck possession team also. Chasing the puck around for 60 minutes is tiring. Losing and chasing the puck takes a massive toll on everyone. The Ducks had a fast start this season, at least when it came to the bottom line of wins and losses. A 5-1-1 start and the stellar goaltending of John Gibson overshadowed some troubling underlying play. They rank last in the league in expected goals-for percentage (xGF%), Corsi-for percentage (CF%), and high-danger chances. They have also given up the most shot attempts in the league. As for shots on goal, Anaheim has yielded at least 30 in every game this season except for Oct. 8 against Detroit. They have allowed at least 40 shots on goal in half their games, and 51 shots once. That 51-shot disaster on Oct. 13 in Dallas—which ended up a being a deceptively close 5-3 loss—featured a second period in which the Stars out-shot the Ducks 30-4. Yes, you read that correctly.

Following last season’s first-round sweep against the Sharks, Bob Murray and the Ducks expressed the need for an updated, speed-based system in order to compete in the evolving NHL. So, some adjustment period was to be expected, and the shaky preseason returns underscored that. However, the Ducks have failed to demonstrate any meaningful progress with the season’s first month all wrapped up. That lack of adjustment and inability to mitigate the problems stemming from a new system 13 games into the season fall on the head coach, Randy Carlyle. We saw this act with Carlyle in Toronto. He’s not a patient, understanding man. He is quick to throw anyone under the bus and start pointing fingers too. He’ll favor players and make it known. To complicate matters even more, the Ducks’ infirmary is filling up because injuries happen often when you are chasing the puck or blocking shots. The Ducks disgusting play is truly legit and therefore they must be faded when they’re favored.

Therefore:

OT included - NYR +130 for 1 unit.

Regulation only - NYR -½ +210 for 1 unit.

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