The Rangers looked dead in the water.
After a two-goal third period evaporated and having just 44 shot attempts compared to a whopping 108 for the Florida Panthers, no one expected the Blueshirts to pull off a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 3 on Sunday.
Until they did.
Thanks to a tipped shot in front from Alex Wennberg − only his second goal since being acquired ahead to the March 8 trade deadline − the Rangers now enter Game 4 tonight with a 2-1 series lead.
More:Game 3 takeaways: Alex Wennberg’s OT winner gives Rangers 2-1 series lead over Panthers
With puck drop coming, can the Rangers steal both games in Florida with a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final on home ice Thursday at Madison Square Garden, or will the Panthers tie the series and make it a best-of-three affair to determine who will win the Prince of Wales Trophy?
Here are the current betting odds, our analysis and prediction for Game 4 between the Rangers and Panthers tonight:
NY Rangers vs. Panthers puck line: Rangers +1.5 (-180), Panthers -1.5 (+160)
Even after a second consecutive overtime victory, the Rangers find themselves as underdogs across the board in Game 4.
Outside of the series opener where they were shutout for the first time at home in both the regular season and playoffs combined, the Blueshirts have covered the spread in the following two contests.
With the Panthers clearly the better team on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise, I’m betting on another dominant performance from Florida in Game 4.
With New York only at -180 (Bet $180 to win $100) to cover the spread, it translates to oddsmakers expecting the Panthers to come out strong again since that price is usually in the -225 to -260 range for teams that are +1.5 on the puck line.
When it comes down to it, I anticipate the Panthers continuing to do what worked for them in Game 3, covering the puck line as a result and winning by two or more goals in Game 4.
Bet365 has the best available odds for Florida to cover -1.5 at +160 (Bet $100 to win $160) tonight.
Prediction: Panthers -1.5 (+160)
NY Rangers vs. Panthers total: Over 5.5 goals (+102), Under 5.5 goals (-120)
Through the first two games, there were only six total combined goals from both clubs.
Once the series headed down south, things changed dramatically.
The two teams combined for a whopping nine goals, including four in the first period and two Rangers goals that were only 25 seconds apart early in the period.
While there’s the likeliness of the total going back down to the mean after a high scoring affair, still wager on the over in this one.
The Blueshirts have had a game featuring six or more goals in four of six road games this postseason.
On the flip side, the Panthers have gone over this line now in three of their previous four contests on home ice dating back to the start of the second round.
Anticipate enough pucks finding the back of the net in Game 4 to clear this low total tonight.
The best price for the over 5.5 goals is at +102 (Bet $100 to win $102) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Prediction: Over 5.5 goals (+104)
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NY Rangers vs. Florida Panthers moneyline: Rangers +140 (Bet $100 to win $140), Panthers -165 (Bet $165 to win $100)
The Rangers continued to prove they are the overtime kings in these playoffs, moving their record to 4-0 in the playoffs when 60 minutes of action is not enough.
However, there are still concerns looming over Game 4 for New York.
Between the Panthers’ consistent, relentless pressure in the third period and a broken Rangers powerplay that has converted only once in its last 18 attempts and is 0-for-8 in the Eastern Conference Final, there’s a good argument to be made that New York should be the one down 2-1 instead of up in the series.
While the Blueshirts were able to escape with a victory in Game 3, I don’t see them being as fortunate here tonight as the Panthers take Game 4 and even the series heading back to MSG for Game 5 on Thursday night.
BetMGM is the sportsbook to go in New Jersey as they’re at the shortest price of -165 on the moneyline in Game 4.