Will the Rangers force Game 7 vs. Panthers? Game 6 odds, analysis and prediction

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The Rangers' season hangs in the balance tonight in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Despite playing one of their best games against the Panthers on Thursday night, the Blueshirts suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

New York struck first with a shorthanded goal from Chris Kreider — his only goal in the Conference Final so far — but then allowed Florida to score three unanswered goals over the last two periods.

Alexis Lafreniere managed to narrow the gap with a goal 50 seconds before the end of regulation, but it wasn't enough. Now, the Rangers are on the brink of elimination from their Stanley Cup Final hopes.

With the Game 5 defeat, the Rangers now face long odds of 9/1 (+900) to win the Stanley Cup.

Can the Blueshirts pull off a road victory to force a Game 7 at MSG, or will Florida celebrate on home ice with a second consecutive Cup Final appearance?

Here are the betting odds, along with our picks and predictions for the spread, total, and moneyline for Game 6 of Rangers vs. Panthers on Saturday night:

NY Rangers vs. Panthers spread: Rangers +1.5 (-185), Panthers -1.5 (+165)

For more insight: Three Rangers who must step up in Game 6 to save the season.

Thanks to the aforementioned goal from Lafreniere in the final minute of Game 5, it marked the fourth consecutive game that this series has been decided by exactly one goal.

That changes in Game 6.

Yes, the Rangers arguably put together their best performance in this series, they still were outshot 29-16 over the final 40 minutes of action and if not for Laf's late goal, Florida would've covered the puck line in Game 5.

Now back on home ice where the Panthers dominated play in Games 3 and 4 and are still at a solid value, wager on Florida to break the streak and win this one by at least two goals on Saturday night.

ESPN Bet has the best available price of +165 (Bet $100 to win $165) for the Panthers -1.5 puck line. 

Prediction: Panthers -1.5 (+165)

NY Rangers vs. Panthers total: Over 5.5 goals (+115), Under 5.5 goals (-135)

Outside of the nine goal shootout in Game 3, this series has produced four straight totals to the under with their being five or fewer goals combined from these two franchises.

With that in mind, the oddsmakers have continued to keep this number at this line throughout the entirety of this matchup

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