Artemi Panarin returned to the lineup for the first time in more than three weeks on Saturday, and his presence helped the New York Rangers snap a three-game skid. New York held its own with a 4-5-0 record with Panarin out of the lineup, but after Saturday’s win, the Rangers have now won three straight with their best player on the ice. His presence will make a huge difference Monday night when the Rangers host the struggling Philadelphia Flyers, who have lost four of their last five games as they hit the road for a pair of contests at Madison Square Garden.
Artemi Panarin hasn’t scored a goal in his last six games, but he has found ways to make an impact in other fashions for the Rangers. He’s had an assist in his last three games and he has four multi-assist games and six multi-point games in 15 games played this season. The +185 odds on this bet from the legal sports betting sites in New Jersey aren’t great, but it’s hard to pinpoint a goal scorer at good value for this game. Instead, I’m going to bet on Panarin feeling more comfortable on home ice in his second game back from his personal issues, and taking it to the Flyers for a seventh multi-point effort on the year. ARTEMI PANARIN 2+ POINTS In seven games in March, the Flyers have allowed four goals or more five times and they allowed three goals in the other two games. Though Philadelphia has been playing some tough opponents in March, it still doesn’t instill much confidence in a defense that’s been that vulnerable. The Rangers are coming off scoring four times on Boston, one of the best defensive teams in the league, so there is a lot of confidence in that locker room right now. The return of Panarin only makes New York more dangerous on offense and until the Flyers learn how to keep the puck out of their own net, it’s hard to bet on them slowing down the Rangers. Even at modest +150 odds from the hockey betting sites in New Jersey, I think this bet is the smart play without overselling the Rangers offense. NEW YORK RANGERS OVER 3.5 GOALS I was honestly a little surprised to see Philadelphia as the slight favorite on the road against the Rangers. Given the Flyers’ current form and Artemi Panarin returning for the Rangers, I thought that should be enough to push New York over the edge into favorite territory. The problem with this game is that I think these are still two pretty evenly-matched teams, so I’m not confident enough that this game will end in regulation let alone that someone will win by multiple goals. However, I’m willing to take that risk on the Rangers to win in 60 minutes because the odds are so much better. You’re able to get +170 odds on the Rangers winning in regulation from the NHL betting sites in New Jersey, which is far better than the even money you’d get betting on the Rangers to simply win the game. NEW YORK RANGERS WIN IN REGULATION
Head to Head This is the third meeting of the season between the Rangers and Flyers with the two teams splitting the first two meetings, both of which were played in Philadelphia. Stats The Rangers have not won multiple games against the Flyers in four years. Over the three seasons prior to this one, New York is 2-8-1 against Philadelphia. Philadelphia has lost four out of its last five games for the second time this season, but have never lost three straight games despite five different two-game skids. Artemi Panarin had an assist in his return to the ice for the Rangers after missing three weeks due to a personal issue. The Rangers are 7-2-2 in games in which Panarin has a point and 0-3-1 when he is held without a point. James van Riemsdyk is one of four Flyers to have played in all 25 games this season and is therefore leading the team with 12 goals and 28 points this season.
New York Rangers to win New York snapped a three-game skid with an emphatic 4-0 shutout over Boston on Saturday, which should only embolden the Rangers in the playoff push. The Rangers are just four points behind Philadelphia as they enter this two-game series and New York is starting to play much better with a full lineup again. The Flyers have lost four of their last five games and are struggling on the defensive end, which is a problem no one could have expected from them. With their struggles to keep pucks out of their own net, it’s hard to envision the Flyers being able to go on the road and take down the Rangers.
