Panthers vs Rangers Prop Picks and Best Bets: Rangers Power Play Stays Hot

Prop bet #1: Detective Bob off the case

Despite the New York Rangers posting the best record in hockey this year, they are a comfortable team losing the shot-attempt and SOG battle. They ranked 19th during the regular season in Corsi% and have a 46% Corsi% in the playoffs. They have the talent in net in Igor Shesterkin to make up for that possession game. 

That’s leading to another series where the Florida Panthers dominate shot attempts which will keep Sergei Bobrovsky quiet on his end. That's getting me to bet his Under 25.5 saves prop tonight. 

The Florida goalie didn’t have to make more than 26 saves in any game vs. Boston and also finished with 16 saves or fewer in three of his last five games. Florida’s possession game coupled with how little New York plays with the puck will create a similar workload for Bob as the Boston series. 

Overtime is something to worry about, but Game 1 is going to be a physical game where both clubs try to set the pace. The Rangers are averaging Under 26 shots per game in the playoffs and will struggle to keep Bobrovsky busy, especially if they're playing with the lead. 

Sergei Bobrovsky: Under 25.5 saves (-125 at BET99)

Prop bet #2: The Carter Zero

The Barkov/Reinhart/Tarasenko line was Florida’s best line in Round 2 where the club managed 18 goals across six games and six over the series’ last three. It’s also a series opener so both clubs will be looking to get all four lines rolling tonight which should cut into the minutes for some of the better skaters including Carter Verhaeghe.

The second-line winger had just one 5-on-5 point in the Boston series vs. Jeremy Swayman and now will face a Conn-Smythe frontrunner in goalie Igor Shesterkin. Of all the plus-money Under point props for the Cats, Verhaeghe at +130 is my favorite. 

He’s playing on the second line with possibly the fifth-best center in the series in Anton Lundell and the Florida power play isn’t as good as its 22% success rate suggests as it is skewed by a 4-for-6 night vs. Boston in a game that got away from the Bruins. The Rangers PK has killed 27 of its last 29 penalties. 

I like the Under 5.5 tonight and wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers skated away with a low-scoring victory, but Verhaeghe is a lot closer to a 50/50 play here than the odds are suggesting when considering goalies, special teams, and total scoring chances in the opener. 

Carter Verhaeghe: Under 0.5 points (+130 at BET99)

Prop bet #3: Rising Dough

Tonight will be a tone-setting game physically and that could lead to some power-play opportunities early in the series before they tend to trail off in the latter games. 

The Rangers’ power play is a strength in this series as the Panthers are going from Boston, a team that is nowhere near as talented as New York with the man advantage, to the Rangers. The Blueshirts potted five PP goals vs. the Hurricanes who had the No.1 penalty kill during the regular season and added another six PP markers vs. the Caps in four games. 

Vincent Trochek leads the Rags in power-pay points in the playoffs with four goals and four assists which makes up a good chunk of his 14 total postseason points. However, Artemi Panarin is the man who touches the puck the most and is only 25 points shorter than Trochek at +150. 

The Bread Man is the betting favorite to lead the series in points at +350 and the best player to take advantage of in a game where the Rags could have success with the man advantage. 

The Rangers’ strengths are in net and special teams. Bobrovsky has not been as great as his 2.37 playoff GAA is portraying and he could see four or more power plays vs. an elite unit. 

Artemi Panarin: Over 0.5 power play points (+150 at BET99)