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The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers meet Saturday in Game 6 of their best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final, which the Panthers lead 3-2. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Rangers picked up a 5-4 win in overtime in Game 3, seizing back home-ice advantage after losing Game 1 on home ice. However, with Game 5 back at Madison Square Garden, the Panthers went to New York and held off the Rangers 3-2 to grab home-ice right back.
New York has its backs against the wall, traveling to South Florida for this elimination game. The Rangers are 6-2 in the past 8 when facing elimination since the 2022 postseason.
The Panthers have won the past 2 games by a 3-2 margin, including Game 4 in overtime at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida is 2-2 in closeout games in these playoffs, losing Game 4 at Tampa Bay with a 3-0 series lead, while falling 2-1 at home in a closeout Game 5 after leading Boston 3-1 in the series.
The Panthers have been involved in 7 one-goal games in the past 8 outings since Game 4 of the 2nd-round series against the Bruins. The Under is on a 7-1 run in their 8 games, too.
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Rangers at Panthers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:33 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Panthers -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-190) | Panthers -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +115 | U: -140)
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Rangers at Panthers projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (10-5-0, 2.36 GAA, .927 SV% — 2024 playoffs) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (11-5-0, 2.27 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO — 2024 playoffs)
Shesterkin was on the short end in Games 4 and 5, although the losses certainly weren’t his fault. He allowed just 5 goals on 76 shots, good for a .934 SV%, which is slightly better than his numbers for the entire postseason.
Shesterkin allowed 2 goals on 36 shots in the 3-2 home loss in Game 5 against the Panthers, and he has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 6 of the past 7 outings.
Bobrovsky conceded 2 goals on 27 shots in the Game 5 win at MSG, and he has allowed 4 goals on 50 shots in the past 2 games since letting in 5 goals in Game 3 on just 23 shots.
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Rangers at Panthers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 3, Panthers 2
Moneyline
NEW YORK (+140) is worth a look at a moderate underdog on the road in this elimination game. The Rangers have won 5 of 7 games on the road this postseason, with 4 of the past 5 road contests decided by a single goal.
When the Rangers have their backs to the wall, they seem to perform at their best. The past 8 times the Rangers faced elimination in the playoffs, they came through with flying colors.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Rangers +1.5 (-190) will set you back nearly 2 times the potential return, That’s quite expensive if you require a little bit of insurance and you can’t bring yourself to play New York straight up.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 5.5 (-140) is quite pricey, but it’s the play in this elimination game.
The total has gone low in 4 of the first 5 games in this series. That’s a stunner considering the Over had been 19-0-1 in the previous 20 meetings dating back to 2016 before this series started.
The Panthers have averaged 2.8 goals per game (GPG) in 5 outings, while the Rangers have managed just 2.2 GPG in the series.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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