PREMIUM
$20! Rogers' 10* NHL SURE SHOT >> 10-5 L15 NHL!
(NHL) NY Rangers vs. Florida,
Money Line: -125.00 Florida (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -125.00 Florida (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 42-22-2 NY Rangers are not scoring these days (just seven total goals in their last five games) but Antti Raanta made 38 saves en route to his career-high third shutout of the campaign, as the Rangers won 1-0 (OT) last night in Tampa. The Rangers traverse the state tonight to play the 29-24-1 Florida Panthers, who have won just one of their last six contests (1-4-1), leaving them two points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
N Y Rangers. New York has been one one the NHL's top-scoring teams for most of the season but its recent scoring slump has dropped them to fifth, as 3.15 goals per game. Only Raanta's shutout last night and Lundqvist's great effort at Boston on March 2 (saved 32 of 33 in a 2-1 win) have kept the Rangers from being no worse than 2-3 while scoring just seven goals in a five-game span.Lundqvist is expected to go back in goal tonight against the Panthers and he'd love to get some help from his teammates.
Florida; The Panthers have won just once in their last five home games, so they need to get things turned around quickly, if they intend to make the playoff field. Florida interim head coach Tom Rowe announced on Monday that he was switching the centers on his second and third lines. Vincent Trocheck (team-high 22 goals) will now play with speedy Jonathan Marchessault (19 goals) and newly acquired Thomas Vanek. Center Nick Bjugstad, who has been injured much of this season, will be reunited with Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen on a unit that was successful late last season and into the playoffs. The Panthers are still without starting goalie Roberto Luongo (lower-body injury) and are relying on backup James Reimer. Like New York's goalies, he could use more help, as the Panthers haven't scored more than three goals in a game since Feb. 17.
The pick: Yes, the Rangers own the NHL's best road record at 23-8-0 but this is a tough travel spot (off the OT win last night in Tampa) and Reimer has played well lately, allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last six starts. The Panthers could really use two points here and that's my bet. Make Florida a 10* play.
N Y Rangers. New York has been one one the NHL's top-scoring teams for most of the season but its recent scoring slump has dropped them to fifth, as 3.15 goals per game. Only Raanta's shutout last night and Lundqvist's great effort at Boston on March 2 (saved 32 of 33 in a 2-1 win) have kept the Rangers from being no worse than 2-3 while scoring just seven goals in a five-game span.Lundqvist is expected to go back in goal tonight against the Panthers and he'd love to get some help from his teammates.
Florida; The Panthers have won just once in their last five home games, so they need to get things turned around quickly, if they intend to make the playoff field. Florida interim head coach Tom Rowe announced on Monday that he was switching the centers on his second and third lines. Vincent Trocheck (team-high 22 goals) will now play with speedy Jonathan Marchessault (19 goals) and newly acquired Thomas Vanek. Center Nick Bjugstad, who has been injured much of this season, will be reunited with Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen on a unit that was successful late last season and into the playoffs. The Panthers are still without starting goalie Roberto Luongo (lower-body injury) and are relying on backup James Reimer. Like New York's goalies, he could use more help, as the Panthers haven't scored more than three goals in a game since Feb. 17.
The pick: Yes, the Rangers own the NHL's best road record at 23-8-0 but this is a tough travel spot (off the OT win last night in Tampa) and Reimer has played well lately, allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last six starts. The Panthers could really use two points here and that's my bet. Make Florida a 10* play.
