Rangers vs. Utah Hockey Club Prediction: NHL Tips, Odds, Bets

If there's one thing to take away from the Rangers' 6-0 win over the Penguins to open the season, it's that Igor Shesterkin means business – literally.

The former Vezina Trophy winner is proving he's worth more than the eight-year, $88 million offer he rejected from GM Chris Drury, which would have already made him the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history.

He followed that statement by stopping all 29 of Pittsburgh's shots, including six dangerous looks at the net and 3.3 goals saved above expectations, according to Moneypuck.

Shesterkin became the first Rangers goaltender in 68 years to open the season with a shutout.

Shesterkin and a Rangers core in its defining year return to host the Utah Hockey Club for Saturday's home opener, opening as the -210 favorite on the money line at BetMGM.

The move to Utah and the exorcism of the Coyotes' history seems to have breathed new life into this franchise.

Utah has scored five goals in each of its first two games, dominating the pace of five-on-five play against both the Blackhawks and Islanders.

To properly assess this team's long-term potential, we need more opportunities to play, although Utah's 2.69 expected goals against per 60 is a step in the right direction from where it left off in the desert.

Betting on the NHL?

Connor Ingram provided adequate goaltending for the Coyotes last year, ranking in the top 21 percent in goals saved above expectations and maintaining a 1.07 high-danger goals-against average, according to Natural Stat Trick.

While he'll have his hands full with a Rangers lineup that saw goals from all four lines Wednesday, Utah's heavy pressure and two-way play should help Ingram complete Shesterkin's money mission.

The piece: Rangers-Utah HC under 6 (-110, BetMGM).

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Sean Stangedi covers NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He focuses primarily on decisions that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.