Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs roll on.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers
Series Head-to-Head: Panthers 1-2 Rangers
TV: ESPN, Sportsnet, TVAS, CBC
The Rangers have won two straight overtime games to take a 2-1 series lead. Alexander Wennberg got the overtime tip-in to help the Blueshirts steal the victory. Igor Shesterkin is making big saves and helping the Rangers get some big wins. However, the ice has been tilted to the Panthers for big stretch. This series could easily be 3-0 in favour of Florida. However, the goalies have played a large hand in the way the series is at the moment.
Let’s take a look at the main storylines for Game 4 in this round of NHL predictions.
The Rangers Story
Who would have thought that Barclay Goodrow would be a playoff hero for the Rangers? Goodrow does have a reputation for being a post-season standout. However, he only had four goals in the regular season. The veteran has already eclipsed that with six this Stanley Cup Playoff run. This post-season could also be the breakout campaign for Alexis Lafreniere. The former number one pick in 2020 has been a monster and is playing like a top overall selection.
New York has won every game that Vincent Trocheck has gotten a point in this post-season. The Rangers are 0-3 when he doesn’t record a goal or an assist. He’s first on the team in post-season points with 18 while Mika Zibanejad has 14.
Shesterkin will get the start again, but one wonders if his play is sustainable. The Rangers will have to take some pressure off of him to get a 3-1 series lead.
The Panthers Story
Florida did all it could to wrest the series lead from New York. However, the Panthers find themselves down 2-1 after three games. Winning Game 4 is critical if Florida wants to win the series. Rallying from 3-1 is not impossible, but would be very difficult. This team is capable of putting together rallies and Florida showed several times it can come back over the last two seasons.
Matthew Tkachuk leads the team in points with 18 while Carter Verhaeghe has 16. Aleksander Barkov continues to play like a Selke Trophy winner and has pitched in six goals this post-season.
Sergei Bobrovsky will once again get the start in goal for the Panthers. He and Shesterkin have put up some great battles against each other. However, he’ll need to keep matching his counterpart in order to give Florida a shot.
Prediction
The Rangers have been fortunate to walk out with two overtime wins. New York is 4-0 in overtime games this season, but faces a Florida team needing to tie the series. The Panthers get the job done and pretty much make it a best-of-three.
Prediction: Panthers win 3-2
Prop Bets of the Night
We’ve got a couple of prop bets ready for tonight’s game. Go with Lafrienere to get the over on +0.5 points for the Rangers. We feel comfortable enough in his game to rely on him. As for Florida, take Sam Reinhart to get the over on +0.5 goals in this game. He’s got seven goals this season and has been up there with Verhaeghe.
Main photo by: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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