New York Rangers - Florida Panthers predictions and free betting tips [23/05/2024]

Today the NHL Eastern Conference Final match between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers will take place.

New York Rangers

The New York Rangers delivered outstanding results in the regular season, securing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The team set club records with 55 victories and 114 points, leading them to clinch the Presidents' Trophy, edging out the Dallas Stars by a single point. The Rangers began the playoffs with seven consecutive wins, successfully overcoming Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals and winning the first three games of the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes, eventually triumphing with a 4-2 series win. In crucial games, the Rangers showcased their strength, particularly highlighted by Chris Kreider’s hat trick in the third period of Game 6, which helped the team to a 5-3 victory and sealed the series.

Russian goalie Igor Shesterkin also made a significant contribution, stopping 33 shots in that game and averaging an incredible 37.2 saves per game in the series. Mika Zibanejad led the team in assists with 11, while Chris Kreider was the top goal scorer with seven goals. Artemi Panarin added seven goals and four assists across 11 matches.  Rangers' coach Peter Laviolette emphasised that the most challenging work lies ahead, starting with this playoff round. The team is focused on the upcoming challenges and approaches each game with utmost seriousness and readiness.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers have demonstrated their prowess in the current playoffs, successfully navigating the initial rounds. Following a shocking victory over the Boston Bruins last season, the Panthers once again showed high levels of performance this year, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning and once more overcoming the Bruins in a seven-game series, 4-3. Notably, their ability to win crucial away matches has been evident, as shown in the series against the Bruins, where they secured three victories on the road. A key moment in the current postseason was Gustav Forsling’s goal 93 seconds before the end of Game 6 in the second round, which secured a 2-1 victory over the Bruins. This was their fourth playoff win by a one-goal margin, but the team also demonstrated the ability to score heavily, netting at least five goals in four other victories. Carter Verhaeghe leads the team in goals with six. Matthew Tkachuk heads the assists tally with 10.

Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has conceded 26 goals and often made incredible saves, boasting a save percentage of 90.2% and an average of 2.37 goals allowed per game. Vladimir Tarasenko has scored two goals and made three assists over 11 playoff matches.  Team captain Aleksander Barkov mentioned that the Rangers were the best team in the regular season, with many talented forwards and a deep roster. The Panthers are aware of the upcoming challenge but are ready to embrace it, focusing on their game and striving to perform at their best.

Match Prediction: New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers

In the match featuring the two best Russian goalies of the current regular season, wagering on a low number of goals might seem advisable, but not in the first game of the series. The offence of both the Rangers and the Panthers has been impressive throughout the playoffs. Shesterkin and Bobrovsky will surely make critical saves, but the lines of Lafrenière-Trocheck-Panarin against Tarasenko-Reinhart-Barkov promise a powerful showdown. In the first match, picking a clear favourite is tough, so I'll place my bet on the total goals over 5.5.