New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Wednesday March 18 2026
Use Code WWWC The Hudson River rivalry is back on ice Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, and if you have been locked in on our NHL picks this season, you already know these rivalry spots carry as much betting value as they do bad blood. The Devils arrive in Manhattan riding back-to-back wins and holding a meaningful edge in the season series, while the Rangers are leaning on their finishing talent and home crowd to flip the script. The market has set a tight number on both sides, but the Devils-and-Over profile has too much supporting evidence to ignore. Here is the full breakdown.
Quick Picks and Prediction
- MoneyLine Pick: New Jersey Devils -114
- Total Pick: Over 5.5
- Projected Final Score: Devils 4, Rangers 3
Odds and Line Movement
New Jersey opened as a modest road favorite around -120 to -125 on the moneyline and the number has since tightened to the -110 to -115 range at most shops, indicating sharp action trimming the price on the Devils throughout the overnight period. The total opened at 6.5 and has since moved down to 5.5, a full-goal drop that dramatically changes the risk profile on the over. Public money on the total has gone almost entirely to the over, with 100 percent of both dollars and tickets on the over in the most recent tracked move. Below are the full opening and current odds, followed by complete line movement tables derived from the data on each market.
Opening Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | -125 | O 6.5 (+110) |
| NY Rangers | +104 | U 6.5 (-134) |
Current Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | -114 | O 5.5 (-132) |
| NY Rangers | -105 | U 5.5 (+108) |
Line Movement - Puck Line
| Date | Time | New Jersey | NY Rangers | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/17 | 10:28:07 AM | -125 | +104 | |
| 03/17 | 10:53:14 AM | -120 | +100 | |
| 03/17 | 06:05:00 PM | -115 | -104 | |
| 03/17 | 08:33:16 PM | -120 | +100 | |
| 03/17 | 08:51:51 PM | -115 | -104 | |
| 03/17 | 08:51:57 PM | -120 | +100 | |
| 03/17 | 09:12:53 PM | -113 | -106 | |
| 03/17 | 09:13:20 PM | -113 | -105 | |
| 03/17 | 09:14:03 PM | -114 | -105 | |
| 03/17 | 11:48:50 PM | -118 | -102 | |
| 03/18 | 08:02:49 AM | -115 | -104 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:16:20 AM | -114 | -105 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:17:22 AM | -110 | -110 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:20:34 AM | -114 | -105 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:21:11 AM | -110 | -110 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:21:30 AM | -111 | -108 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:22:25 AM | -114 | -105 | NYR 91%, NJ 50% |
Line Movement - Total
| Date | Time | Over | Under | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/17 | 10:28:07 AM | 6.5 (+110) | 6.5 (-134) | |
| 03/17 | 10:53:14 AM | 5.5 (+110) | 5.5 (-134) | |
| 03/17 | 10:53:20 AM | 5.5 (-142) | 5.5 (+116) | |
| 03/17 | 06:04:35 PM | 6.5 (+112) | 6.5 (-138) | |
| 03/17 | 06:05:00 PM | 6.5 (+112) | 6.5 (-140) | |
| 03/17 | 08:33:16 PM | 6.5 (+116) | 6.5 (-142) | |
| 03/17 | 08:51:51 PM | 6.5 (+114) | 6.5 (-140) | |
| 03/17 | 08:51:57 PM | 6.5 (+116) | 6.5 (-142) | |
| 03/17 | 09:12:53 PM | 5.5 (-132) | 5.5 (+108) | |
| 03/17 | 09:13:25 PM | 5.5 (-132) | 5.5 (+108) | |
| 03/17 | 09:14:03 PM | 5.5 (-130) | 5.5 (+106) | |
| 03/18 | 03:12:39 AM | 5.5 (-134) | 5.5 (+110) | UN 100%, UN 100% |
| 03/18 | 08:02:36 AM | 5.5 (-132) | 5.5 (+108) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:02:49 AM | 5.5 (-134) | 5.5 (+110) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:16:20 AM | 5.5 (-132) | 5.5 (+108) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:17:22 AM | 5.5 (-134) | 5.5 (+110) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:20:34 AM | 5.5 (-132) | 5.5 (+108) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:21:30 AM | 5.5 (-134) | 5.5 (+110) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
| 03/18 | 08:21:50 AM | 5.5 (-132) | 5.5 (+108) | OV 100%, OV 50% |
Devils vs Rangers Handicap and Key Matchups
New Jersey enters Wednesday at 34-31-2 and arrives in better form than the home side. The Devils have been the stronger road team this season at 16-16-0, while New York is just 9-16-6 on home ice — a troubling mark for a team expected to protect Madison Square Garden. The season series already tilts toward New Jersey, with the Devils winning the first meeting 6-3 on March 7, a result that was not particularly close and demonstrated that New Jersey has the firepower to hang a crooked number on this Rangers group.
The Devils' offensive structure is the strongest argument for their side. The skill concentrated around Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier gives New Jersey a top-line ceiling that compares favorably to anyone in this division, and the Devils are generating nearly 30 shots per game against roughly 25 for the Rangers. That volume edge compounds over time and explains why New Jersey has been the more stable five-on-five team. The Devils are also coming off back-to-back wins over Boston and Los Angeles, carrying genuine momentum into a rivalry environment.
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New York is not without its weapons. Mika Zibanejad remains one of the better finishers in the league, and the Rangers' power play has converted at a slightly better clip than New Jersey's this season. If Igor Shesterkin gets locked in and steals saves in critical moments, the Rangers absolutely have a path to winning this game. The problem is that the broader structural profile — shot volume, road form, season series, defensive stability — leans toward the visitors.
On the total, this is a spot that warrants serious attention even at the elevated juice on the over. Both teams are allowing goals at a rate above three per game, with the Devils surrendering 3.05 and the Rangers giving up 3.12. Neither penalty kill has been airtight, and a rivalry game carrying late-season urgency tends to produce an open, emotional brand of hockey that benefits the over. The total dropped a full goal from 6.5 to 5.5 during the overnight session, and while the juice is now significant at -132, the underlying numbers support six-plus goals in this environment.
Betting Trends — NJD vs NYR
- New Jersey defeated New York 6-3 in the first meeting of the season on March 7.
- The Devils are 16-16-0 on the road this season; the Rangers are just 9-16-6 at home.
- New Jersey is coming off back-to-back wins over Boston and Los Angeles.
- The Devils are generating nearly 30 shots per game; the Rangers are averaging roughly 25.
- New Jersey is allowing 3.05 goals per game; New York is allowing 3.12.
- The total has dropped from 6.5 to 5.5 since opening, with a significant line move overnight.
- Public money on the total is 100 percent on the over in both dollars and tickets as of Wednesday morning.
- 91 percent of public dollars on the moneyline are on the Rangers despite New Jersey being the market favorite.
Key Injuries and Notes — NJD vs NYR
New Jersey Devils: Brett Pesce (out, week-to-week), Stefan Noesen (out), Zack MacEwen (out, long term).
New York Rangers: Matt Rempe (injured reserve).
The most impactful absence in this matchup belongs to New Jersey, with defenseman Brett Pesce sidelined week-to-week. Pesce's injury hurts the Devils' shutdown structure and could open up a few more quality looks for the Rangers at even strength. Stefan Noesen's absence also trims some net-front presence and secondary finishing for New Jersey. Despite those losses, the Devils still enter with a more dangerous top-six and a larger shot volume advantage. For New York, the injury report is lighter with only Matt Rempe on injured reserve, leaving the Rangers closer to full strength — though that has not resolved their issues suppressing chances and protecting home ice throughout this season.
Devils vs Rangers Moneyline and Total Picks
- MoneyLine Pick: New Jersey Devils -114 — Backing New Jersey moneyline is the play. The Devils are the better road team, they dominated the season series opener by three goals, and a one-goal margin is all that is needed to cash the plus-money ticket. The Devils have the depth and momentum to win the game convincingly.
- Total Pick: Over 5.5 (-132) — Both teams are allowing more than three goals per game, both penalty kills have been vulnerable, and the rivalry setting typically produces an up-tempo, emotional game that benefits the over. The total dropping to 5.5 from 6.5 sharpened the number but did not eliminate the value. Six-plus goals is a reasonable expectation in this spot.
Final Score Prediction
New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 3. This game stays tight through the first two periods, with the Rangers keeping pace behind Zibanejad and a couple of power play opportunities. New Jersey's superior shot volume and top-line skill eventually take over in the third, and the Devils seal it with an empty-net goal that pushes the final margin to one and covers the puck line at the plus price. The over cashes as both offenses find enough traffic and both penalty kills surrender at least one goal each.
How to Bet Devils vs Rangers
Madison Square Garden on a Wednesday night rivalry matchup is exactly the kind of game where line value can shift quickly, so getting your bets in early matters. If you are just getting started with sports wagering, social sportsbooks are a low-risk entry point that let you play the same markets and lines available at traditional books using virtual currency, with no real money required to get in the game.
For bettors ready to commit real dollars on tonight's Devils-Rangers action, the bet365 bonus code is one of the strongest new-user offers available right now. Bet365 consistently prices NHL moneylines and totals competitively, and the puck line at plus money on New Jersey is the kind of market they handle well across most legal betting states.
If you prefer a more relaxed, sweepstakes-style approach to tonight's action, the fliff promo code gets you started with bonus coins redeemable across a full slate of NHL markets. Fliff is a strong option for recreational bettors who want skin in the Devils-Rangers game without putting real dollars at risk from the opening puck drop. Shop your line, lock in the over before the juice climbs further, and enjoy one of the best rivalries in the Eastern Conference.
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