The stage is set for a thrilling Game 1 in the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night, when the New York Rangers host the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden.
Oddsmakers value this opening game as a true pick’em, meaning both teams are available to wager at -110 moneyline odds. With two of the best goaltenders in the league, Sergei Bobrovsky and Igor Shesterkin, set to face off, we could wind up seeing a close, physical, low-scoring game at MSG to open this series.
The Panthers made a run to the Stanley Cup Finals last year before getting routed 4-1 by the Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers have bounced back in a big way this postseason, going from a Game 7 elimination to New Jersey in the first round in 2023, to throttling Washington and closing out their hard-fought series on the road in Game 6 against Carolina in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
We were only a J.T. Miller point away from cashing a +328 Same Game Parlay in our last article during Edmonton’s 3-2 Game 7 win over Vancouver on Saturday night. Now, we’re back with another plus-odds SGP to tail ahead of Wednesday’s puck drop at Madison Square Garden. Follow me @Matt_MacKay_ on X for more free plays, NHL Prop Bets, and NHL best bets during the week.
Wednesday's NHL SGP
Leg 1: Artemi Panarin To Record 1+ Points (-265)
Artemi Panarin had a relatively quiet series against Carolina but he still recorded eight points, including two goals, leading the Rangers in total points alongside Vincent Trocheck. All we need is an assist to get this first leg settled as a win. Panarin has at least one point in eight straight games against the Panthers at home, so this is a good place to start our Same Game Parlay.
Leg 2: Matthew Tkachuk To Record 1+ Points (-188)
Next up, we’ve got Matthew Tkachuk in the same exact betting market. We’re banking on Tkachuk to record at least one point in Game 1, while getting good value at -188 odds. Tkachuk was held in check for many of the games played against Boston, recording five points, with only one goal.
However, he’s a physical player who isn’t afraid to get in front of the goaltender to set screens and pick up rebounds. Tkachuk is also a masterful tactician in the offensive zone, setting up his teammates with quality passes to finish possessions with a goal. Shesterkin looked a bit shaky against the Hurricanes, surrendering three or more goals in all but one start across six games. Tkachuk shouldn’t have a problem getting on the stat sheet tonight, making him the second leg of our SGP.
Leg 3: New York Rangers Moneyline (-110)
We’re siding with the Rangers in this Game 1 matchup at home. New York has won each of their last four Game 1s in a playoff series and hasn’t played at MSG since getting allowing four third-period goals to wind up getting blown out by Carolina in Game 5, failing to advance in front of their home fans.
Expect a much more motivated Rangers team to come out early and build a lead, since the home team has won the first period in four of the lats five games played between New York and Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky also has looked inconsistent at times, while facing far fewer shots on goal than Shesterkin has thus far.
New York’s moneyline is the final leg of our three-leg SGP, entering Game 1 with a ton of confidence following Chris Kreider’s third-period hat trick to mount a memorable comeback against Carolina in Game 6.
Same Game Parlay: +300
Only three legs inserted into this Same Game Parlay gets us to +300 odds. We’re tailing Matthew Tkachuk and Artemi Panarin to continue contributing to scoring possessions by recording at least one point in Game 1 on Wednesday night. These star players tend to show up in the biggest moments, so expect contributions from both of them by the end of the game. Then, we’re investing in the Rangers’ moneyline odds as a true pick’em at home, which is great value considering the Rangers played a tougher opponent in the Semifinals.
A 3-1 payout awaits us as long as these three legs hit. We were red-hot for a few days until barely missing another +300 SGP during Game 7 between the Oilers and Canucks on Saturday night. Now, we’re due to hit this SGP in what projects to be a highly entertaining game between the Rangers and Panthers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night.
Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros & FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.