When the Florida Panthers visit the New York Rangers on Monday, the Eastern Conference’s top spot isn’t the only thing at stake. Whoever wins will have a claim to the NHL’s best record with 20 games remaining.
These powerhouse clubs met once this season, a back-and-forth affair in December. That matchup was in Florida and ended with a 4-3 Panthers victory. This time around, the Blueshirts get to host. New York’s lead in the Metropolitan will survive the night no matter what, but the Panthers could be knotted up with the Bruins in the Atlantic Division again if they don’t collect a point.
Those are the stakes for Monday’s matchup. This is one of those instances where a regular season game will have a playoff feel. Who will put on a show in the World’s Most Famous Arena?
New York Rangers vs. Florida Panthers Betting Odds
| Team | Puck Line | Total | MoneyLine |
| Panthers | -1.5
+200 |
O 6
+102 |
-120 |
| Rangers | +1.5
-245 |
U 6
-122 |
+100 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
New York Rangers vs. Florida Panthers Match Details
- Fixture: Florida Panthers @ New York Rangers
- Date and Time: Monday, March 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m. EDT
- Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Home Team | vs. | Away Team |
| 40-17-4 | Record | 41-16-4 |
| 3.33 | Goals Per Game | 3.28 |
| 31.0 | Shots Per Game | 34.2 |
| 24.6% | Power Play | 26.2% |
| 52.9% | Faceoff | 51.5% |
| 552 | Penalty Minutes | 828 |
| 2.70 | Goals Against Per Game | 2.36 |
| 29.6 | Shots Against Per Game | 27.6 |
| 83.4% | Penalty Kill | 82.8% |
| 3 | Shutouts | 5 |
Key Stats
New York Rangers
- Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers in goals (35), assists (49), points (94) and power play points (31)
- Igor Shesterkin was named the third star of the month for February. He went 7-0-0 with a .953 SV% and a 1.72 GAA
- New York is 21-7-0 at home this season. Their .750 P% is second in the NHL and first in the Eastern Conference
- Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler are out for the season
- Matt Rempe has 27 PIM in seven games played
- The New York Rangers are 3-1-1 in their last five games
Florida Panthers
- Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers in goals (42) and points (72)
- Sergei Bobrovsky is third in wins (30) and second in GAA (2.30) among goalies with at least 30 starts this season
- As a team, the Panthers allow the fewest goals per game (2.36) in the NHL
- Florida is 21-8-2 on the road. That .710 P% is the best in the league
- Jonah Gadjovich is questionable for this game
- The Florida Panthers are 4-1-0 in their last five
Match Prediction
These teams have both been phenomenal lately. It has come on the strength of strong defense and goaltending. In Florida’s last 16 games, only one team has scored more than two goals against them. New York held four of their past six foes to exactly one goal.
So, Monday may come down to who blinks first. It should be a tight battle, where the Garden helps tilt the ice in the Rangers’ favor. Playing at home, where they’ve won 75% of their games, along with an offense that’s slightly more reliable will give New York an edge this time. Back the Blueshirts in a low-scoring game.
Final Pick
New York Rangers ML (+100); Under 6 (-122)
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Follow Andre on Twitter at @TowerTalkSports. You can also reach out to Andre Ifill via email at andre.ifill.jr@gmail.com. For Andre’s hockey talk, listen to this podcast every weekday. Andre also discusses the NFL, NBA, and MLB here. You can read and follow Andre’s betting picks at Winners and Whiners or read more of his stuff here on Total Apex Sports. He has spent years writing, talking, and picking sports professionally at the highest level.
