The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers meet Sunday in Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals at the Amerant Bank Arena. Here’s a Florida Panthers vs NY Rangers Prediction.

New York Rangers Betting Preview

The New York Rangers have split their last 6 games and look to take a 2-1 series lead. The Rangers are 4-1 on the road in these NHL playoffs. The New York Rangers are averaging 3.08 goals per game and are scoring on 6.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Chris Kreider leads New York with 7 goals, Mika Zibanejad has 11 assists, and Vincent Trocheck has 37 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Rangers are allowing 2.5 goals per game and are killing 88.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Igor Shesterkin has allowed 28 goals on 377 shots faced.

Florida Panthers Betting Preview

The Florida Panthers have won 5 of their last 7 games and look to take a 2-1 series lead. The Panthers are 4-2 at home in these NHL playoffs. The Florida Panthers are averaging 3.31 goals per game and are scoring on 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Carter Verhaeghe leads Florida with 8 goals, Matthew Tkachuk has 11 assists and Sam Reinhart has 55 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 2.23 goals per game and are killing 88.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 28 goals on 318 shots faced.

Florida Panthers vs NY Rangers Injury Report

The Florida Panthers don’t have any player on their injury report entering game 3. The NY Rangers will continue to be without Blake Wheeler due to a lower body injury. Jimmy Vesey is questionable with an upper body injury.

Why the Florida Panthers will win

• The Panthers have won each of their last five Game 3s of a playoff series.
• The Rangers have lost each of their last three Game 3s of an Eastern Conference Finals series.
• The Panthers have covered the puck line in five of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents after coming off overtime.
• The Panthers have won the third period in nine of their last 10 day games.

Florida Panthers vs NY Rangers Prediction

I lean Florida Panthers because I still believe they’re the more talented team, and they’re a bounce away from being up 2-0 in this series. However, the better bet is probably the under. While there’s been high scoring games between the Rangers and Panthers in the past, the first two games of this series have been defensive led. Igor Shesterkin and Sergei Bobrovsky are standing on their head and proving they’re two of the best goalies in the business. With the series tied and the pressure building, teams often play games like this close to the vest. Nobody wants to make that mistake that leads to a failed shot at a Stanley Cup Final berth. 

The under has cashed in 4 of the Rangers last 6 games while the under has hit in each of the Panther’s last 5 games. I expect another low scoring, sweaty game. Give me the under 5.5 goals in game 3 between the Rangers and Panthers.