The Eastern Conference Final is set with the New York Rangers set to face off against the Florida Panthers in a best-of-seven series to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Let’s get right into our Eastern Conference Final betting preview with odds, picks, and predictions for this Rangers vs. Panthers series.
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NHL Playoffs odds, picks, & Predictions: Rangers vs. Panthers
Rangers vs. Panthers odds
New York Rangers (+130) | Florida Panthers (-135)
Rangers +1.5 Games (-150) | Panthers -1.5 Games (+135)
Over 5.5 Games (-177) | Under 5.5 Games (+165)
Despite winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the regular season and going 8-2 through the first two rounds, the Rangers are underdogs against the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
Rangers vs. Panthers Picks & Predictions
The Rangers won the Metropolitan Division in the regular season, then defeated the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes en route to the Eastern Conference Final. They swept the Caps before going up 3-0 against the Canes in what looked like a cakewalk to the ECF. However, the Canes gave the Rangers a scare with two straight wins and a 3-1 lead going into the third period of Game 6.
That’s when Chris Kreider took over with a natural hat trick to help send the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final. Of course, goaltender Igor Shesterkin came up huge for New York, as he does, and the Rangers once again find themselves underdogs in a series in which they have home-ice advantage.
The Rangers haven’t been the best at 5-on-5—in fact, their 47.25% expected goal share is the worst of the remaining four (five) teams. They’ve been out-chanced 229-190 at 5-on-5, including 93-73 in high-danger chances.
It’s been the Rangers’ 31.4% power-play efficiency and 89.5% penalty-killing rate that has been the difference. Oh yeah, Shesterkin boasting a .923 SV% doesn’t hurt either.
Carolina gave the Rangers a tough test, and the Blueshirts now face another one in the form of the Florida Panthers. The Panthers’ Cinderella Run ended in the Stanley Cup Final last year, and they’re looking to finish the deal this time around.
The Panthers have been strong throughout these playoffs. They took down the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games before beating the Bruins in six contests. The Cats were the better team in that series, though, with Boston netminder Jeremy Swayman stealing Game 5 before Florida finished it in six.
Florida has had 50.75% of the expected goal share at 5-on-5 play with a significant scoring chance advantage (245 – 199). However, the Cats have allowed more high-danger chances (104) than they’ve generated (89). Sergei Bobrovsky has answered the bell in net, though, with an 8-3 record and .902 SV% and 2.37 GAA through two series.
The x-factors in this series will be the Panthers’ depth and the Rangers’ special teams and goaltending. Nevertheless, this should be a great series and a long one at that.
Rangers vs. Panthers Pick: Over 5.5 Games (-177)
Rangers vs. Panthers Prediction: Panthers in 6 Games (+400)
