The Florida Panthers are one win away from returning to the Stanley Cup Final, but they must first defeat the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the 2024 NHL Eastern Conference Final on Saturday. New York came close to taking over Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday when Alexis Lafreniere scored with 50 seconds left in regulation. Florida was able to hold on for a 3-2 victory and take a 3-2 series lead.
Opening faceoff at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida is set for 8 p.m. ET. Florida is a -167 favorite (risk $167 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Panthers vs. Rangers odds from SportsLine consensus while New York is a +140 underdog. The over/under for total goals scored is 5.5 and Florida is a -1.5 (+155) favorite on the puck line. Before making any Rangers vs. Panthers picks, you need to check out the NHL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
SportsLine's model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like current form, individual matchups, injuries and short- and long-term trends when making NHL picks. It entered the 2024 NHL playoffs on a 7-4 run on top-rated puck-line picks.
Now, the model has set its sights on Panthers vs. Rangers and just locked in its NHL picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the latest NHL odds and trends for Rangers vs. Panthers:
- Panthers vs. Rangers money line: Florida -167, New York +140
- Panthers vs. Rangers over/under: 5.5 goals
- Panthers vs. Rangers puck line: Florida -1.5 (+155)
- NYR: Have won five of their last six road playoff games
- FLA: Sergei Bobrovsky leads all playoff goaltenders with 11 wins
- Panthers vs. Rangers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Rangers
The pressure was on Sergei Bobrovsky at the end of Game 5 as New York scored with less than a minute left in regulation and almost tied the game up. Luckily, Florida's offense is getting plenty of looks at the other side of the ice and keeping the heat on Shesterkin. The two-time Vezina winner will have to be even better .901 save percentage on home ice, however, so he will have to be on his A-game if the Panthers are to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
Florida is also expected to play a more physical game on Saturday. The Panthers were expected to be the more physical team in the series, but are only narrowly out-hitting the Rangers 183-181 overall. Aaron Ekblad leads the Panthers with 53 hits, and he could be an x-factor on Saturday as Florida tries to close out the series. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why you should back the Panthers
The Panthers won't want the series to go back to New York for a Game 7, so they will likely play their most physicial game yet. Florida has narrowly out-hit New York in this series 183-181, so the Panthers will be keen to impose their will on home ice and end the series there.
Despite allowing a late goal in the third period of Game 5, Bobrovsky has done a good job of minimizing the damage outside of the 5-4 OT loss in Game 3. Florida's offense has done a good job of finding the back of the net, but Bobrovksy will have to make some very big stops on Saturday if the Panthers are going to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Rangers vs. Panthers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 6.1 combined goals. It also says one side of the money line is the better value. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Rangers vs. Panthers, and which side of the money line is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rangers vs. Panthers money line to jump on Saturday, all from the advanced model that has simulated this matchup 10,000 times.
