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Rangers vs. Panthers prediction: Florida favored to win Friday's NHL matchup [1/2/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get NY Rangers vs Florida Panthers predictions for NHL Friday.
The Florida Panthers will face the NY Rangers in NHL action at loanDepot park on Friday, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Panthers as the most likely winner of the Rangers vs. Panthers game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Friday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Rangers vs. Panthers prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Friday's NHL matchup between the Rangers and Panthers 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Panthers a 57% chance of beating the Rangers.
According to our model, the Rangers (+1.5) have a 65% chance of covering the puck line, while the 5.5-goal over/under has a 53% chance of going over.
Rangers vs. Panthers odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Rangers | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-210) | -1.5 (+180) |
| Moneyline | +122 | -142 |
| Total | o5.5 (-115) | u5.5 (-102) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Rangers vs. Panthers picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Panthers -1.5 | +180 |
| Moneyline | Panthers | -142 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | -115 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 5.5 total goals.
Rangers vs. Panthers player props
Who will score a goal in Rangers vs. Panthers?
According to our model, Sam Reinhart is most likely to score an anytime goal in Rangers vs. Panthers.
Our projections give Reinhart a 43.1% chance of scoring a goal at loanDepot park, while the star is a 9.1% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
NY Rangers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Artemi Panarin | 39.0% |
| Vincent Trocheck | 27.6% |
| Mika Zibanejad | 26.3% |
| Will Cuylle | 24.9% |
| Alexis Lafreniere | 22.5% |
Florida Panthers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sam Reinhart | 43.1% |
| Brad Marchand | 37.3% |
| Sam Bennett | 35.8% |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 27.4% |
| Anton Lundell | 23.6% |
First goal scorer predictions
NY Rangers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Artemi Panarin | 8.0% |
| Vincent Trocheck | 5.4% |
| Mika Zibanejad | 5.0% |
| Will Cuylle | 4.7% |
| Alexis Lafreniere | 4.0% |
Florida Panthers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sam Reinhart | 9.1% |
| Brad Marchand | 8.1% |
| Sam Bennett | 7.0% |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 4.8% |
| Anton Lundell | 4.5% |
Rangers vs. Panthers game-day updates and essential details
Friday's game between the Panthers and Rangers at loanDepot park is scheduled to commence at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: NY Rangers vs. Florida Panthers
- Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: loanDepot park
Conclusion
We predict the Panthers, with a 57% win probability, will likely beat the Rangers on Friday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Rangers vs. Panthers insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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