The New York Rangers welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2026, in an interesting cross-conference matchup late in the NHL regular season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Both teams come into the contest after recent defeats and will look to reset their momentum as the season moves closer to its final weeks.
For the Rangers, this season has been difficult. The team recently fell into a long losing streak and has struggled to produce consistent results. Despite having talented players such as Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière, the Rangers have had trouble converting chances and protecting leads. Their recent stretch of games has featured defensive breakdowns and limited offensive efficiency, which has put them in a challenging position in the standings.
Chicago, meanwhile, continues to push forward with a younger roster led by Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks have shown flashes of improvement lately and remain capable of surprising opponents. Their offense revolves heavily around Bedard’s creativity and shooting ability, while emerging talents like Anton Frondell have begun to contribute meaningful points. Chicago still faces consistency issues on the road, but they have managed to remain competitive in many recent games.
This matchup becomes intriguing because both teams are currently searching for stability. New York will rely on its experienced core and home-ice advantage, while Chicago will hope its young offensive players can take advantage of defensive mistakes. With scoring talent on both sides and uncertain goaltending form, fans could see an open game with several scoring opportunities.
Below is a full preview including lineups, stats, recent results, injury updates, and the best betting picks for this NHL matchup.
Match Details
| Match | Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Rangers |
|---|---|
| Date | March 27, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Madison Square Garden |
| Location | New York, USA |
| Broadcast | ESPN+ |
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Rangers -183 |
| Blackhawks | +152 |
| Puck Line | Rangers -1.5 (+140) |
| Total Goals | 6 |
New York enter the game as the betting favorite mainly because they are playing at home.
Recent Form
New York Rangers – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | Maple Leafs | Loss 3-4 |
| Mar 24 | Senators | Loss 1-2 |
| Mar 22 | Jets | Loss 2-3 |
| Mar 20 | Blue Jackets | Loss 3-6 |
| Mar 19 | Devils | Loss 3-6 |
The Rangers are currently going through a difficult stretch with multiple losses.
Chicago Blackhawks – Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | Flyers | Loss 1-5 |
| Mar 25 | Islanders | Win 4-3 |
| Mar 23 | Predators | Loss 2-3 |
| Mar 21 | Avalanche | Loss 1-4 |
| Mar 20 | Wild | Win 2-1 |
Chicago have mixed results recently but have shown flashes of strong offensive play.
Head-to-Head Record
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2025 | Blackhawks 3 – Rangers 0 |
| Jan 6, 2025 | Rangers 6 – Blackhawks 2 |
| Dec 10, 2024 | Blackhawks 2 – Rangers 1 |
| Feb 10, 2024 | Rangers 4 – Blackhawks 3 |
| Jan 5, 2024 | Rangers 4 – Blackhawks 1 |
Recent meetings between the teams have been fairly balanced.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
| Line | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Alexis Lafrenière |
| 2 | Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Kaapo Kakko |
| 3 | Will Cuylle – Filip Chytil – Jimmy Vesey |
| 4 | Barclay Goodrow – Nick Bonino – Tyler Pitlick |
Defense Pairings
| Defense |
|---|
| Adam Fox – Ryan Lindgren |
| K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba |
| Braden Schneider – Erik Gustafsson |
Goalies
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Igor Shesterkin |
| Jonathan Quick |
Chicago Blackhawks
| Line | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Bedard – Anton Frondell – Tyler Bertuzzi |
| 2 | Taylor Hall – Philipp Kurashev – Lukas Reichel |
| 3 | Andreas Athanasiou – Jason Dickinson – Joey Anderson |
| 4 | Nick Foligno – Colin Blackwell – Reese Johnson |
Defense Pairings
| Defense |
|---|
| Seth Jones – Kevin Korchinski |
| Connor Murphy – Wyatt Kaiser |
| Alex Vlasic – Jarred Tinordi |
Goalies
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Spencer Knight |
| Arvid Soderblom |
Injury Report
New York Rangers
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Matt Rempe | Out (long-term) |
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Shea Weber | Out |
| Ryan Ellis | Out |
| Matt Grzelcyk | Expected to return soon |
| Andrew Mangiapane | Day-to-day |
Key Stats Comparison
| Category | Rangers | Blackhawks |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Per Game | 3.3 | 2.6 |
| Goals Allowed | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Shots Per Game | 31.7 | 28.5 |
| Power Play | 21% | 19% |
New York have slightly better offensive production overall.
Players to Watch
New York Rangers
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Mika Zibanejad | Leading scorer |
| Alexis Lafrenière | Offensive winger |
| Adam Fox | Top defenseman |
Chicago Blackhawks
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | Franchise center |
| Anton Frondell | Rookie forward |
| Tyler Bertuzzi | Secondary scoring |
Bedard and Frondell could be dangerous if they find space in the offensive zone.
Player Props
| Player | Prop Pick |
|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | Over 0.5 Points |
| Anton Frondell | Over 0.5 Points |
| Mika Zibanejad | Anytime Goal |
These players have been involved in many scoring plays recently.
Best Picks
| Bet Type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Rangers |
| Spread | Blackhawks +1.5 |
| Total | Over 6 |
Given the Rangers’ defensive struggles and Chicago’s young offense, goals could come from both sides.
How to Watch Blackhawks vs Rangers
Fans can watch the matchup live on ESPN+. The game will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.
Final Prediction
Both teams have had inconsistent results recently, but New York may benefit from playing on home ice. The Rangers still have experienced players capable of producing offense, while Chicago’s young lineup will try to capitalize on defensive mistakes.
Expect a competitive game where Chicago keeps things close but New York finds a way to end its losing streak.
Predicted Score:
Rangers 4 – Blackhawks 3
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