A heartbreaking loss Tuesday pits the Rangers in a critical Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, where a loss would put them severely behind the eight-ball.
The Rangers are home underdogs again in Game 5, coming in at +105 on BetMGM; the total has stood steady at over/under 5.5 with significant -135 juice toward the under.
Another night as a home underdog in the playoffs is nearly unprecedented.
This is the sixth straight home game where they are underdogs, the second-most consecutive times being underdogs at home in the last 20 years, with the 2021 Islanders having the edge at seven games.
Thanks to the back of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers still had a chance to win Game 4 and are tied at 2-all in the series despite being outplayed by the Panthers.
The Panthers are ranking second in Corsi percentage, while the Rangers have ranked 14th among 16 playoff teams in the same stat.
The Rangers will need to control the puck more intensely and consistently if they hope to win this series, starting at home Thursday.
Rangers vs. Panthers prediction
(8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
It’s tough to back the Rangers right now, given everything we’ve seen in this series. The Panthers have dominated this series in both offensive and defensive metrics.
The Rangers’ penalty kill is also problematic, considering it was supposed to be an advantage coming into the series.
Florida has scored multiple power-play goals in each of the last two games, including the game-winner in Game 4
The Rangers have given up at least one power-play goal in all but one game this series.
Is there positive regression coming for them?
It’s possible, but it’s also getting tough to expect this consistent herculean performance from Shesterkin.
Much has been made about the trio of Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad playing stronger hockey.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Rangers in the NHL playoffs
Believe that when you see it, making it impossible to bet the Rangers here as home underdogs pregame.
If things are looking up in the second period and you want to fire a live bet at plus-odds no one will stop you.
Betting on the NHL?
Target Sam Bennett’s prop for shots on target, coming in at 2.5 at +150 on FanDuel.
This is a prop he’s hit less frequently in the playoffs, just three times in 10 games, but he averaged 2.48 shots per game during the regular season, making this a coin flip at best historically.
The +150 odds are giving us about a seven percentage against those odds.
Don’t overreact to poor shot numbers in this series and look at the long game Thursday evening.
PICK: Sam Bennett over 2.5 shots (+150, FanDuel)