Rangers vs. Panthers Pick and Prediction – June 1, 2024

RANGERS VS. PANTHERS EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – June 1, 2024 — For the first time this postseason, the Rangers face elimination. New York improved its play in Game 5, but the Blueshirts still couldn’t figure out the power play.

The Rangers are now 1-for-14 in the series with the man advantage, and they keep running into a basic truth about playing Florida: the Panthers are really good at defense. Florida keeps forcing the Rangers to play their game, and New York keeps proving unable to handle it.

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And now New York faces its toughest challenge yet: having to go back down to Florida knowing that it’s been outplayed in three straight games. The Rangers have the best goaltender and the best coach, but over 200 feet of ice, Florida has been better.

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Unfortunately for the Rangers, the issues they showed in the Carolina series have shown up here. New York looks tired and is facing an opponent that can match Igor Shesterkin. The Hurricanes ran out of games; the Panthers obviously won’t have that problem.

The Odds

Puck Drop

When: Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. EST

Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Fla.

TV: ESPN

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of May 31st, 2024

Rangers vs. Panthers In-Season Trends

Overtime didn’t happen last time out, but it was another one-goal margin. That proved to be the fourth time in five games where the game went to the extra session, which has made betting the underdog on the spread quite profitable. Taking the underdog +1.5 in this series has resulted in wins every single night, as the first game was the only one decided by multiple goals and Florida won it.

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Five goals has also become a trend. Igor Shesterkin remains the best goaltender in the world, even while Florida is finding its way through the defense. Neither goaltender is giving up much of anything, making under betting the way to play this series.

Players to Watch

Sam Bennett has arrived. The Panthers’ center is clearly fully healthy and now has five points in this series. It’s clear that the Rangers don’t have an answer for him, as he’s stepped up since shaking off the injury from the Tampa Bay series. Bennett slowly rounded back into form in the Boston series, and he’s now back to being himself.

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Mika Zibanejad, on the other hand, has mostly disappeared, until Game 5. Zibanejad assisted on both Ranger goals for his first points of the series. He has not found the net since Game 1 of the Carolina series, which was 10 games ago. If the Rangers are going to come back, they need him to get back on track.

The Pick

I’ve said all series I thought this series was going seven. But the truth is, it should have been dusted in five. Florida should have won Game 3 and controlled the play in Game 4 and Game 5. With the Rangers tiring, it takes a lot to believe in them to do the job now.

I’m not completely abandoning them, as the +1.5 bet remains a winning option. But I’m no longer confident in New York’s ability to come back after what I’ve seen since Game 4 of the Carolina series. Florida has been the better team in this series. I’ll back the under and expect a one-goal Panther victory.