NHL Eastern Conference Finals Kickoff: Florida Panthers at New York Rangers for Opening Game

Tuesday, May 21st, 2024

The New York Rangers are set to welcome the Florida Panthers for the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals. Throughout the regular season, these teams have faced off three times, with the Panthers emerging victorious in two of those encounters.

At their home ground, the Rangers have shown formidable strength, achieving a record of 34 wins, 12 losses, and no ties. Their performance has particularly shone in matches where their opponents have been more heavily penalized, securing a record of 36 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie under such circumstances.

On the flip side, the Panthers have demonstrated their capability on the road with a record of 30 wins, 12 losses, and 4 ties. They, too, have capitalized when playing against penalty-prone teams, earning a record of 28 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie in these matches.

For the Rangers, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad stand out as key contributors, with Trocheck amassing 77 points and Zibanejad adding 14 points over the last ten games.

The Panthers rely heavily on the prowess of Sam Reinhart, who has tallied 94 points, and Matthew Tkachuk, who has notched 12 points in recent games.

Looking at recent performances, the Rangers have been scoring an average of 3.5 goals per game, while the Panthers have slightly edged them out with an average of 3.6 goals per game. In the realm of penalties, the Rangers have had fewer, averaging 4.7 per game, in contrast to the Panthers' 4.8.

The Rangers are currently dealing with a significant injury, as Blake Wheeler is sidelined for the season with a lower-body issue. Meanwhile, the Panthers have a clean bill of health with no injuries reported.

Related Links

• New York Rangers News & Updates
• New York Rangers Schedule & Scores
• Florida Panthers News & Updates
• Florida Panthers Schedule & Scores
• NHL News