The Pittsburgh Penguins will travel to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to open the season against the New York Rangers. New York enters as a clear favorite, but these teams were evenly matched last season and will try to get an important win to set the tone for their season. Before the puck drops on this Metropolitan Division matchup, continue reading to get my Penguins vs Rangers prediction for Tuesday night.
Our Penguins vs Rangers Pick
- Pick: Over 5.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers
- Date & Time: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
Recent Form
The Penguins played well in the preseason, winning five straight games to close out their exhibition slate. The Pens will try to build on the encouraging end to their preseason with a win here. The Rangers lost four of their six games in the preseason and will try to bounce back from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
Goaltending
Tristan Jarry is slated to start in net for Pittsburgh. He is looking to reassert himself after an inconsistent 2024–25. His numbers in recent seasons have been under heavy scrutiny. Igor Shesterkin remains the backbone of the New York defense. The Rangers have done a pretty good job of wasting Shesterkin’s prime, but he still has high upside between the pipes for New York when at his best.
Key Skaters
Pittsburgh will be without veteran forward Bryan Rust, sidelined for at least two weeks with a lower-body injury. His absence removes a proven goal source and veteran presence. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and other forwards must carry bigger loads in his absence. New York’s Artemi Panarin is listed as day-to-day coming into this season opener. But their forward group remains deep and dangerous. Defensively, New York’s blue line and special teams will be crucial in limiting Pittsburgh’s offensive chances.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop Type | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | Goals | Over 0.5 |
| Igor Shesterkin | Saves | Over 25.5 |
| Tristan Jarry | Saves | Under 25.5 |
Penguins vs Rangers Model Projection
Score Projection: Penguins 3 – Rangers 4
Win Probability: Pittsburgh 35%, New York 65%
Final Thoughts
I think that we are in for a close game in New York tonight, even if the Rangers enter as a heavy home favorite. Instead of taking a huge early risk by betting the Rangers at a steep price, I’d rather take the over in this contest. Both teams have plenty of attacking talent and struggled on defense for the most part a season ago. I see that trend continuing tonight, as we should see this game between rivals in the Metro Division go over the total of 5.5 goals.
