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The Rangers will be looking to secure their eighth consecutive victory tonight as they come up against the Sharks at Madison Square Garden. Their seventh win was notched up at the expense of the lowly Maple Leafs, with New York closing the game out 4-1. San Jose, coming off the back of a win against the New York Islanders at the weekend, are likely to provide a sterner test for the Rangers, who'll be desperate to make history over the coming weeks.

An eighth consecutive victory, something not achieved by the Rangers since the early days of 1975, would edge them closer to the franchise record. If they're to take that next step, the likelihood is they'll be relying upon their star of the season to date: off-season acquisition Marian Gaborik.

Gaborik was stellar again against Toronto at the weekend, providing two assists and helping to sharpen a potent and incisive Rangers attack that now leads the league with 32 goals. His assists and overall contribution to the team have been invaluable but his individual play also cannot be ignored; he's totaled 36 shots (making him second in the league), of which six have resulted in goals.

Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves against Toronto to make his tally for the season read even better; he's saved 205 of the 220 shots fired against him so far. The Sharks have stars of their own, make no mistake about that. Joe Thornton was impressive in San Jose's last clash, whilst Evgeni Nabokov excelled, making 31 saves against the Islanders.

The Rangers were defeated by the Sharks in December last season but the confidence they'll be carrying into this clash, which gives them the belief that they can win a game when they're playing badly, will make them an entirely different proposition tonight.

Understandably, the Rangers are favorites for this clash, at odds of +136 [2.36]. The Sharks are available to back for victory at +174 [2.74], with the tie on at +340 [4.4]. The Rangers' odds represent fantastic value here and, on the run they're on right now, it seems wise to place a bet sooner rather than later before the odds change.

Elsewhere in the NHL tonight, the Vancouver Canucks, who beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 at the weekend, are set to come up against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, who hold an impressive recent home record over the visitors tonight, are favorites to win the clash at odds of +140 [2.4], with Vancouver on at +154 [2.54].

The Monday night hockey action is rounded off by the clash between Los Angeles and Dallas. The Kings are outsiders in this one at +210 [3.1], with Dallas on at +118 [2.18].