NHL Odds & Picks: Wednesday (Panthers vs. Rangers)
We're onto the Conference Final round of the NHL playoffs, and the action gets underway tonight as the Panthers (0-0) square off against the Rangers (0-0). Game one is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
Below I'll dive into the odds, review how each team got to this point, and wrap up the article with my favorite bet for game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Florida Panthers (-115) vs. New York Rangers (-105) | 5.5 (-108/-112)
The New York Rangers racked up 114 points during the regular season, winning the Metropolitan Division and the Presidents' Trophy. They went on to sweep the Capitals in the first round before taking down the Hurricanes in six games in the second round.
As for the Florida Panthers, they won the Atlantic Division (110 points), setting up a first-round matchup against the Lightning. They dusted the Bolts in five games just prior to beating the Bruins in a six-game series. That sets up this Eastern Conference Finals clash between the two divisional winners. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cats are priced at -150 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, while the Blue Shirts come back at +130.
I'm riding with the Panthers on the moneyline (-115) in game one. This is a team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last season before bowing out against the Golden Knights. They know what it takes to make these deep runs, and it feels like they're back with a vengeance this year.
Stylistically, Florida presents a much tougher task than Carolina simply because of their competent special teams play. The Hurricanes couldn't score on the Power Play, or kill their own penalties. The Panthers have been very sound on the PK, killing 86.11% of their penalties. Only the Oilers (91.43%) and Rangers (89.47%) are higher this postseason.
I think this whole series will come down to 5-on-5 play, and I give the edge to Florida during even-strength action. The Cats are ranked first in Goals% during 5-on-5 play (56.41%) compared to the Rags' seventh-place mark of 51.35%. The Panthers have also been the more physical team, racking up 489 hits during even-strength play, while the Rangers sit at just 285.
In terms of head-to-head numbers during the regular season, the Panthers went 1-0-1 in games against Igor Shesterkin, with the loss coming in shootout fashion (4-3). The win was a 4-2 contest, which featured an empty-netter. So, this is about as close of a series as you can get at this point. I agree with the oddsmakers that it's basically a toss-up. However, I still give the overall edge to Florida, as they're the more well-rounded 5-on-5 team, and they're by far the most competent special teams squad that New York will face this postseason. Let's ride with the Panthers in Game 1.
Bet: Florida Panthers Moneyline (-115)