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

The Rangers season is on the line tonight in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

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

New York got on the board first with a shorthanded goal from Chris Kreider -- his lone goal so far in the Conference Final -- before surrendering three unanswered goals to Florida over the final two periods.

While Alexis Lafreniere was able to cut it to a one-goal game with 50 seconds remaining in regulation, it wasn't enough as the Blueshirts are on the brink of being eliminated from a chance at the Stanley Cup Final.

With the Game 5 defeat, the Rangers now have a whopping 9/1 odds (+900) to win the Stanley Cup.

Can the Blueshirts get the job done on the road and force a Game 7 at MSG, or will Florida be celebrating on home ice with a second consecutive Cup Final appearance?

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

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

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.

Similar to the trend of the puck line mentioned above, I'm betting on a different result here and taking the over.

Even with these low scoring outcomes, the Panthers offense hasn't slowed down.

Florida's found the back of the net at least three times in Games 3 through 5 and are 4-2 to the over in their last six games on its home ice.

The Rangers numbers are right in line, with the organization going over this line in three of four games away from MSG this postseason.

It might need to come down to an empty net goal but I'm still banking that the total goes over this line of 5.5 goals.

Multiple sportsbooks in New Jersey (ESPN Bet, bet365 and betMGM) all have a total of six or more goals to be scored at +115 (Bet $100 to win $115).

Prediction: Over 5.5 goals (+115)

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NY Rangers vs. Panthers moneyline: Rangers +145 (Bet $100 to win $145), Panthers -165 (Bet $165 to win $100)

The Rangers find themselves in quite a difficult situation here.

Outside of needing to beat the Panthers at home -- where they're 6-2 this postseason -- New York needs to turn the tide and go on the offensive against this physically dominant Florida group.

New York succeeded in doing so for a good chunk of Game 5 at MSG.

But it still wasn't enough to hold off the Panthers from going on the road and now being on the verge of another Stanley Cup Final berth.

The President Trophy winning Blueshirts will all but likely throw everything they have at them with their season on the line.

And yet, as it's been a theme throughout this series, the Rangers push will not be enough, as tonight's contest ends with a handshake line and New York's tremendous season coming to a conclusion.

BetMGM has the shortest odds for the Panthers moneyline at -165 (Bet $165 to win $100) in Game 6.

Prediction: Panthers 4, Rangers 2

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