New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers Prediction, 1/2/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers

Date: Friday, January 2, 2026

Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL

TV: Scripps Sports Local

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (+162) Panthers (-196)

Amerant Bank Arena is the site where the Florida Panthers (20-15-2) will take on the New York Rangers (19-17-4) on Friday. The moneyline on this contest has the Rangers at +162 while the Panthers are opening at -196. The over/under is 6.

The New York Rangers will look for better times on the ice after their 2-0 loss to the Islanders their last time out. The Rangers had a below average offensive performance in the defeat. For the matchup, they ended the night with no scores out of the 27 shots they attempted. Additionally, they had 3 power play chances but didn't convert them into a score. New York accrued 12 minutes in the box for this contest.

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When talking about their goal scoring prowess, the New York Rangers have accounted for 102 goals (28th in the league) on the campaign and have given up 107. For the current season, they have recorded 42 points and their points percentage is .525. New York comes into the game with 98 power play chances and they have tallied 18 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 18.37%. When at even strength, the Rangers have surrendered 86 goals while earning 84 of their own. New York has taken 1,042 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.8%. The Rangers have had 1,129 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .905. New York Rangers opponents have earned 114 power play tries (16th in pro hockey) and have scored 21 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has played in 305 contests over the course of his NHL career. He has earned a win-loss record of 178-100-25 and he has gotten the start in 300 games. Opponents have racked up 748 goals against Shesterkin in his pro career and his goals against average is 2.49. Shesterkin has had 8,973 shots against him and has gathered 8,225 saves. His save percentage currently sits at .917 in his 14,600 mins guarding the cage. Throughout his time in hockey, Shesterkin has tallied 189 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .630.

In their last outing, Florida played the Lightning in a game where the Panthers took a loss by a final score of 4-2. They had 10 power play opportunities in this matchup and recorded 1 out of those tries. The Panthers scored 2 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they took.

Florida has taken 1,080 shots (13th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.83%, while allowing the other team 985 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 83.06% on their opponents 124 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 88.1%. They have earned 136 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play percentage of 18.38%. The Panthers have tallied 92 goals at even strength and 25 goals (10th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 117 goals to be scored by of a combination of 96 goals at even strength and 21 goals while they were shorthanded. On the campaign, the Florida Panthers have earned a total of 117 goals, 42 points, as well as a points percentage of .568.

Across the ice you are likely to see Sergei Bobrovsky protecting the goal. He has accounted for 20,489 saves out of the 22,428 shots tried, which gives him a percentage of .914. Bobrovsky has compiled a lifetime record of 445-252-58 and has participated in 780 games. He has started in 766 games and has racked up 40,026 mins. Bobrovsky's rate of quality starts sits at 58.1% and he has made 445 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. The opposition is averaging 2.53 goals per game and he has yielded 1,939 goals overall.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Florida (-196)

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