Can Rangers even series vs Panthers? Betting preview, odds & prediction for Game 2

The Rangers will look to even the Eastern Conference Final with Game 2 versus the Panthers on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

New York failed to show up in Game 1, getting shut out 3-0 on home ice on Wednesday evening at MSG.

In order to find the last time the Blueshirts were shutout, you have to go all the way back to Dec. 9 against the Capitals.

More: Game 1 takeaways: Rangers open Eastern Conference Final with shutout loss to Panthers

In fact, it was the first time in the regular season and postseason combined that the President Trophy winners held scoreless at home.

With a massive Game 2 in order, can the Rangers tie the series or will the Panthers steal both games on the road and head back home up 2-0?

Here are the betting odds, our analysis and prediction for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final:

NY Rangers vs. Panthers puck line: Rangers +1.5 (-275), Panthers -1.5 (+235)

It's clear the Blueshirts easily had one of their worst performances of the entire season in Game 1.

However, there are multiple reasons for optimism.

The Rangers haven't lost by multiple goals in these playoffs, with the most recent time being during the final stretch of the regular season in early April.

There's no doubt Florida flexed its muscles in Game 1 and were clearly the better team for 60 minutes.

However, it'd be foolish to count out New York after one bad outing.

Even if the Blueshirts do lose Game 2, there will undoubtedly be a better performance from them than what they put out there in the series opener.

It's a hefty price but worth paying for the Rangers to cover the +1.5 puck line of -275 (Bet $275 to win $100) on BetMGM.

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NY Rangers vs. Panthers total: Over 5.5 (+105), Under 5.5 goals (-124)

Given their recent trend of games and head-to-head matchups, it seemed as if Game 1 would clear the low total of 5.5 goals at MSG.

And yet it was the opposite.

The first goal of the game wasn't scored until late in the first period and following a scoreless second frame, the Panthers netted multiple goals late in the third to put the finishing touches to take a 1-0 series lead.

With more information, I've decided to switch my thoughts and bet the under tonight.

Rangers' Igor Shesterkin and Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky have clearly been the two best goalies in these playoffs and they put that on full display in Game 1.

While Bobrovsky outdueled Shesterkin, there wasn't much else Shesterkin could do. With one of the goals being an empty net, he only allowed two goals, with one of them being a redirection shot into his own net by teammate Alexis Lafrenière's stick to give Florida a commanding 2-0 lead with under four minutes remaining in regulation.

With both Russian netminders clearly on top of their games, bet the under until you see otherwise as these two continue to duel it out in the Conference Final.

The best price on New Jersey sportsbooks for under 5.5 goals is on FanDuel at -124 (Bet $124 to win $100).

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NY Rangers vs. Florida Panthers moneyline: Rangers -104 (Bet $104 to win $100), Panthers -112 (Bet $112 to win $100)

It's easy to say this is a must win spot for the Rangers, but in reality, it's hard to argue against it at this point.

If they drop Game 2, it'll be a tall task heading to the Sunshine State down 2-0 for Games 3 and 4 where the Panthers are 4-2 this postseason.

Whether it's Chris Kreider -- who came through when the team needed him most with a natural hat trick in the period of Game 6 against the Hurricanes last round -- somebody's going to need to step up offensively for the Blueshirts.

Regardless who it may be, it's going to take an all hands on deck approach, with the Panthers giving up two or fewer goals in six straight contests dating back to early in their series against the Bruins.

Until something changes, I see tonight's game being another defensive battle, low scoring affair, where the Rangers break through late and take Game 2 of the series to send the 19,000+ at MSG into a frenzy with the series now tied going to Florida.

For the second consecutive game, bet on the Rangers as a small underdog on the moneyline at -104 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Prediction: Rangers 3, Panthers 2

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Rangers vs. Panthers Game 2 betting preview, odds, prediction