Panthers vs Rangers Prediction 1/2/26 NHL Picks Today

The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers meet Friday in the NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park. Here’s a Panthers vs Rangers Prediction. This article will include a Panthers vs Rangers Pick.

New York Rangers Betting Preview

The New York Rangers lost to the Capitals and Hurricanes, and they play the Mammoth next. The Rangers have lost 4 of their last 5 games.

The New York Rangers are averaging 2.55 goals per game and are scoring 19.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Artemi Panarin leads New York with 14 goals, Adam Fox has 24 assists, and Mika Zibanejad has 108 shots on goal. Defensively, the New York Rangers are allowing 2.76 goals per game and are killing 80.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Igor Shesterkin has allowed 81 goals on 899 shots faced, while Jonathan Quick has given up 21 goals on 278 shots.

Florida Panthers Betting Preview

The Florida Panthers beat the Capitals, lost to the Habs, and they play the Avalanche next. The Panthers have won 9 of their last 13 games.

The Florida Panthers are averaging 3.18 goals per game and are scoring on 18.6 percent of their power-play opportunities. Brad Marchand leads Florida with 22 goals, Sam Reinhart has 21 assists, and Sam Bennett has 97 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 3.15 goals per game and are killing 82.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 74 goals on 661 shots faced, while Daniil Tarasov has given up 37 goals on 368 shots.

Why the Florida Panthers will win

• The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Rangers have lost four of their last five games.
• The Panthers have covered the puck line in each of their last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Panthers have won the third period in each of their last five games against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Why the New York Rangers will win

• The Rangers have won each of their last four games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The Panthers have lost six of their last nine games as home favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Rangers have covered the puck line in each of their last nine road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight Friday games as home favorites.
• The Rangers have won the second period in each of their last four road games against Atlantic Division opponents.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Rangers’ last eight road games against the Panthers following a road loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Panthers’ last eight games after coming off overtime have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Rangers’ last five road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in 16 of the Panthers’ last 17 home games against the Rangers.

Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts

• Sam Reinhart has scored the last goal in each of the Panthers’ last three home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Brad Marchand has scored a goal in each of the Panthers’ last four home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Brad Marchand has recorded at least one assist in seven of his last eight home appearances against the Rangers.
• Sam Reinhart ranks T2nd in the league for Game Winning Goals (5) this season.

New York Rangers Player Prop Facts

• Artemi Panarin has scored a goal in four of the Rangers’ last five road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one assist in each of the Rangers’ last eight games as road underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Adam Fox has recorded an assist in each of his last seven appearances – longest active streak in the league.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Florida Panthers rank 6th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.84%).
• The Florida Panthers rank 4th in the league for Period 3 goals scored per game this season (1.26).
• The New York Rangers rank 31st in the league for goals per game this season (2.55).
• The New York Rangers rank 7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.76).

Panthers vs Rangers Prediction

You can make a case for the Rangers as road dogs, as we’ve backed them a ton in this spot this season, and they have 14 road wins. I’m looking at the over in this spot though. Four of the last six winter classics have produced 6 or more goals. It can be hard at times to pick up the puck in these outdoor games, and it leads to a cheap goal or two.

Not to mention, the last two games between the Panthers and Rangers produced a combined 16 goals. I’ll side with a high scoring contest and take the over in the 2026 Winter Classic.