Rangers vs. Islanders prediction: NHL odds, picks, best bet Wednesday

You could — and many have — make a sound case that Matthew Schafaer’s omission from Team Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympics roster was one of the biggest snubs in the tournament. 

His instantaneous impact on the Islanders this season has been electrifying, considerably boosting the brand value of a club that’s cruised to veteran secondary scoring for a decade. 

Schaefer’s exceptional two-way game has translated seamlessly to the NHL, where he has notched 13 goals and 34 points in 52 games.

The 18-year-old No. 1 overall draft pick plays with a combo of speed and hockey IQ that tilts the ice in his favor at both ends, allowing him to drive possession without sacrificing defensive structure.

As of this writing, Schaefer ranks within the top 20 players in time on ice (24:03) as the Islanders tread above the playoff cutline. 

Among the many teams that have been burned by Schaefer’s acumen are the Rangers, who head into the first leg of a back-to-back against the Isles not only down 2-0 in the season series, but 7-0 in combined scoring.

Although Schaefer didn’t see the scoresheet for any of the Islanders’ seven goals in this matchup, he has collected five shots and a plus-1 rating against the Rangers. 

After silencing the Flyers, 4-0, the Isles are -154 home favorites at bet365 over the Rangers, who just found some rare positivity from a 4-3 overtime win over the Bruins.

Matthew Schaefer (48) skates with the puck against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at UBS Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Blueshirts have taken a 90-degree dive from preseason playoff contenders to the NHL’s abyss, with sole ownership of last place in the Eastern Conference.

An overarching lack of confidence, diminished depth, and poor in-game discipline have led to weak starts and undermined any progress. 

Turnovers are a prime result of this mess, and the Rangers sit as a top-five club in defensive giveaways to the opposition. 

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The Rangers have allowed 26 shots per game between the first two meetings with the Islanders.

While Schaefer has only collected three shots in three out of 12 games this month, his ability to join the rush and create chances gives upside against a team drowning in uncertainty. 

Per MoneyPuck, Schaefer is attempting 5.7 shots per game with 2.4 of them making it to the cage. 

He’s also leading the Isles in low-danger unblocked shot attempts, a category the Rangers have been stingy in, but makes No. 48’s plus-money value worthwhile.

THE PLAY: Matthew Schaefer Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+150, FanDuel)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

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