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Rangers vs. Panthers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Game

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: December 30, 2024 7:52 AM EST • 2 min 35 sec read.

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames as we offer our Rangers vs. Panthers prediction.
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames. Photo by Sergei Belski via Imagn Images

I'm not sure what's going on inside the New York Rangers locker room, but it's only a matter of time before Peter Laviolette is ushered permanently out the door.  

Because, in the end, the coach is almost always the scapegoat. The Rangers have seemingly quit on Laviolette. How else can you explain them falling face-first into a pool from a 10-meter diving board?

They have lost 14 of their last 18 games and face the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network) on Monday. 

The Panthers haven't excelled on home ice this season, especially recently, but they remain among the Stanley Cup odds front-runners and hope a tilt against the Blueshirts is the tonic they need to get back on track. My Rangers vs. Panthers prediction follows that narrative, expecting Florida to win in regulation. 

Today's Rangers vs. Panthers prediction

Odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

My best pick: Panthers 3-way ML ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: | Implied probability: 56.52%

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It's the slump to trump all slumps, and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight for the Blueshirts, an apt name for their almost two-month stretch of abhorrent play. 

The Rangers have the worst points percentage since Nov. 20 (.222) and the third-worst in enemy rinks (.200). As if losing 14 of 18 games isn't enough, they haven't even been able to force overtime and secure a consolation point.

Among those 14 losses are six by three or more goals. They were outscored 14-3 overall and 11-2 on the road in the last three games.  

There's no reason to believe things will get any better for the Rangers when they face a Panthers team in a particularly sour mood after back-to-back brutal displays of their own. 

Panthers to pounce on bounce-back opportunity 

The Panthers haven't scored in two games, losing by the same score, 4-0, on either side of the Christmas break. They have a golden opportunity to get back on track against a team utterly devoid of confidence, camaraderie and anything resembling cohesion. 

Florida has only lost three consecutive games once previously this season, and it is yet to taste defeat in three straight at home. I expect the Panthers to take their bounce-back opportunity and win in regulation. The -130 odds offer decent value, considering the Rangers' current state of affairs. 

Rangers vs. Panthers player prop pick

NHL picks made Monday; odds subject to change.

Sam Bennett prop pick: Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -106 via Betway | Implied probability: 51.46%

I don't have a ton of faith in either team's scoring prowess at the moment. The Panthers have been shut out four times in December, while the Rangers are dreadful across the board. 

Bennett has hit the Over on this prop in two straight and four of the last five home games. He's also fired at least three shots against the Rangers in two of three previous meetings. A winning $10 bet will profit $9.43. 

Rangers vs. Panthers live odds & info

  • When: Monday, Dec. 30
  • Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise, Fla.)
  • How to watch: NHL Network
  • Favorite: Panthers (-200 via Betway)

Rangers vs. Panthers injuries

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Written By:
Gary Pearson
Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.