Rangers vs Panthers Picks, Predictions, and Odds Tonight
The Panthers lead the NHL in shots on goal per game, but few teams are better prepared to stop it than the Rangers, especially when Igor Shesterkin is between the posts. For more, check out our betting picks and NHL predictions below.
Last updated: January 1, 2023 11:16 a.m. ET Reading time: 4 min
The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers are both looking to get back on track as we begin 2023.
The Panthers have won just one of their last five games, while Rangers have lost both games after the Christmas break.
Rangers fans always travel well to Florida, so this won’t necessarily look like a typical home game for the Panthers and the underdog just happens to be 11-3 in the last 14 meetings between these two teams.
It will be their first meeting of the season. Read our NHL picks and predictions below to see how it plays out.
Rangers vs Panthers best odds Pick and predictions Rangers vs Panthers
The Florida Panthers have had a really tough time lately and really are a tough team to figure out.
They lead the league in shots on goal per game, but they struggle to consistently produce an offense. On the other hand, the New York Rangers lead the league in offensive chances per game, averaging 13.11, but have scored only once in their last two games.
For me, the X factor in this game will be Igor Shesterkin. Despite losing his last two starts, Shesterkin has been playing very well lately and is skating with a .918 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average this season. He is currently tied for second among goaltenders with 17 wins this season and he also comes into this game with an above-expectation +11.2 saves.
Sergei Bobrovsky is the expected starter for the Panthers and he’s far from his best. He comes into this game with a .897 SV% with a 3.23 GAA. As such, Rangers certainly have the advantage between the pipes.
Since both offenses have struggled lately, my focus is on the goaltenders and defense leaning towards the Rangers in this game. I’ll gladly take them as an underdog here.
My best bet: Rangers Moneyline (+110 at BetMGM)
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Rangers vs Panthers moneyline analysis
Before the last Rangers game, there was a ton of drama surrounding Alexis Lafrenière who was scratched by head coach Gerard Gallant. Lafrenière will be back in the lineup today and I’m looking for him to be a spark plug for his team.
The Panthers are going to need a spark plug. Matthew Tkachuk led the way with 43 points in 30 games, but he needs a bit more help as other stars like Aleksander Barkov aren’t keeping up with his scoring pace. Rangers will be focused on shutting down those two as they drive the entire offense.
Florida’s power play was 0-6 last time out and is currently ranked 26th in the league with a 19.1% success rate. I expect those struggles to continue against Shesterkin tonight.
Rangers vs. Panthers Over/Under Analysis
It seems the obvious choice here is to take the Under, which is never a bad idea when Shesterkin is in the blue paint.
Both of these teams have been much more consistent defensively. New York enters this game allowing 2.70 goals against per game; the Panthers haven’t been as strong in their own end, allowing 3.38 goals per game.
Both power plays have struggled, especially the Rangers who have scored just once in their last 16 attempts. They enter this game ranked 18th in the NHL, converting at a rate of 21.4%.
The Panthers are going to get a ton of shots on goal like they normally do, but the Rangers should be able to contain them and not allow too many high-risk chances. Give me the bottom.
Rangers vs Panthers betting trend you need to know
The underdog is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Panthers.
Game Info Rangers vs Panthers Location: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL Date: Sunday, January 1, 2023 Puck drop: 5:00 p.m. ET TV: Bally Sports Florida, MSG Rangers vs Panthers key injuries Pages related to this topic