Archive note: Technical commentary has been removed. This remains historical pregame coverage; original selections have been retained where stated.
Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Rangers Prediction - March 27, 2026
Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.
The Chicago Blackhawks travel to Madison Square Garden on March 27 to face the New York Rangers in what shapes up as a tight, evenly matched contest. Chicago enters this matchup fresh off a 2-win stretch in their last five games, while New York searches for answers after a prolonged winless drought. Both teams sit in the middle of the pack at 4-3-3 (Chicago) and 4-5-1 (Rangers), setting the stage for a game that could shift momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Team Form & Recent Performance
Chicago's recent uptick has been encouraging, winning two of their last five outings and showing signs of stabilization after earlier inconsistency. However, the Blackhawks face a significant scheduling disadvantage: they're playing on zero days rest after a back-to-back, which could impact their legs and decision-making late in the game.
The Rangers, conversely, are in the midst of a troubling stretch with zero wins in their last five games (0-5-0). This extended winless streak has compounded pressure at Madison Square Garden, though the team does have the advantage of normal rest heading into this contest. With one day of preparation, New York will have a fresh roster ready to capitalize on Chicago's fatigue factor.
This is the most predictive advanced metric for future goal-scoring, indicating New York is generating prime scoring opportunities at a significantly higher rate. Despite their winless streak, the Rangers have been creating the right chances; they simply haven't capitalized on them.
Goalie Matchup
Arvid Soderblom takes the net for Chicago with a 7-11-3 record.
Igor Shesterkin draws the start for New York with an impressive 22-16-6 record. Shesterkin's track record makes him a reliable floor in this matchup.
Goalscorer Picks
For Chicago, Connor McDavid's teammate Connor Bedard remains the prime anytime goalscorer pick. The generational talent is always capable of breaking through against any defense. Tyler Bertuzzi is the dark horse pick.
On the Rangers side, J.T. Miller is the obvious choice to find the back of the net and snap this winless streak.
Prediction
This is nearly a coin flip, reflecting how tightly matched these teams truly are.
Run your own prediction with the WP Hockey Predictor calculator to see how different variables shift the outcome.
Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.