Rangers
New York is currently in second place in the division just one point behind the Devils. They lost their first game in regulation a few nights ago and overall, have a 5-1-1 record. On both ends of the ice, this squad is thriving, ranking first in the NHL in goals scored with 4.57 per night while allowing just over two per game, which is fourth-lowest in the league. Artemi Panarin is off to a ridiculous start to lead the way, already scoring seven and tallying eight assists. Alexis Lafreniere also has four goals and three assists and just signed an extension. The Rangers have a lot of weapons and were on the brink of making the Finals in June. Another Metropolitan Division crown is definitely possible. They’re +130 favorites at Betway.
Hurricanes
Carolina is a very strong team with a plethora of talent on their roster. Max Necas, Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis are all key pieces. The Hurricanes have won two in a row as of Saturday and currently sit at 4-2-0. Carolina is also considered a Cup contender out of the Metropolitan. They were second in the division last season, finishing only three points behind the Rangers. The Canes should be in the mix at the top of the Metropolitan again and definitely can give New York a run for their money for top spot.
Devils
New Jersey is a bit of a dark horse. The Hughes brothers are both extremely solid players and Nico Hischier is a legitimate offensive weapon. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt round out this impressive Devils core. NJ is in first place in the division but has hit a cold spell, losing four in a row. They’re scoring 3.45 goals per game and also performing well on the opposite end of the ice. The Devils will be looking to live up to expectations after finishing second-last in the Metropolitan in 2023-24. A lot more is expected out of this group this season. They have the third-best division odds at most NHL sportsbooks.
Islanders
The Islanders have made the playoffs in two consecutive seasons but suffered first-round exits in both. They aren’t usually at the top of the Metropolitan but New York typically has a strong enough record to advance to the postseason. They were third a season ago with 94 points and a 39-27-16 record. The Isles are just 3-2-2 to begin the campaign and have struggled offensively. Matthew Barzal and Bo Horvat need to get going. It doesn’t help that Anthony Duclair is out for 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury, either.
