2024 NHL playoffs - Panthers-Rangers Game 5 betting tips - ESPN

Well, we are back where we started — except now it's a best-of-three series starting Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

The Florida Panthers got the winner in OT in a Game 4 that should not have been as close as it was. Once again, Igor Shesterkin was the primary reason the New York Rangers didn't lose by a touchdown. He was so good, he gave New York a chance even though they were thoroughly outplayed after the first period.

The oddsmakers are giving the edge to the Panthers again for Game 5, while also still suggesting a low-scoring affair. Fair enough. After four games, all but Game 3 have had minimal goals.

The President's Trophy winners aren't going quietly into the night though. My preferred narrative for Game 5 is a resurgence on home ice for the Blueshirts. They have to focus on what they did in the first period on Tuesday and extend that for the full 60 minutes — taking some major heat off Shesterkin in the process.

Two things make me lean Rangers here: The power play, albeit briefly, showed some signs of life with its first goal of the series; and Adam Fox started to look like Adam Fox again.

Florida Panthers at New York Rangers

Eastern Conference final — Game 5 (series tied 2-2)

Madison Square Garden, New York; Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Watch live on ESPN

Game 5 Puck line: Panthers -1.5 (+210); Rangers +1.5 (-300)

Game 5 Over/Under: 5.5 (+110/-130)

Game 5 Moneyline: Panthers (-125); Rangers (+105)

Adam Fox over 0.5 Total Points (-115) parlayed with Adam Fox over 0.5 Total Power Play Points (+275). Fox hasn't quite looked like Fox for a while. There has been some speculation that he's been hampered by an injury ever since the series with Washington. Whatever the case, he looked like Fox on Tuesday. And if you are in