Panthers vs. Rangers: Betting Picks and Prediction for Game 2

The Florida Panthers were able to win Game 1 on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers. What takeaways can we draw from this game, and what does it mean for Game 2?

Let's dive into the best bet for tonight.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals are from the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All advanced statistics are used from MoneyPuck.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.

NHL Best Bet

Florida Panthers at New York Rangers Game 2

Rangers Moneyline (-106)

The Panthers shut out the Rangers 3-0 in Game 1 in an impressive performance. They held the Rangers to just 23 shots on goal for the entire game. Now, the Rangers will have the opportunity to even the series at home before things move south to Florida for the next two games.

The game was definitely closer than that score would indicate. It was 1-0 after two periods and the third goal was into an empty net.

The advanced data backs up that this was a close game. The Rangers actually had the edge in expected goals (xG) in the game, 2.98 to 2.83. New York hit the post twice, which is reflected in the xG numbers but not in the normal shots on goal.

Florida had the edge in power plays, three to two. If the Rangers get more than two power plays, that will make them dangerous. They had the third-best power play in the regular season with a 26.4% success rate. In the playoffs, they've even improved on that, bumping it up to 29.7%.

These teams are fairly evenly matched, and goaltending can make the difference. In Game 1, Sergei Bobrovsky saved 2.69 goals above expected, while Igor Shesterkin allowed 0.40 above expected. Igor had been the better of the two Russian goalies in the playoffs before that game, saving 0.74 goals above expected per 60 minutes. Bob has been good as well with 0.44 but not quite at the same level as Shesterkin. A reversal of fortunes would go a long way to helping the Rangers win Game 2.

Moneypuck's "Deserve To Win O'Meter" had the Rangers winning around 60% of the time. At -106 odds, we're getting good enough odds to bet on the Blueshirts in tonight's game.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.