The New York Rangers haven’t won a playoff series since 2017. If the Rangers can’t figure out how to prevent the Pittsburgh Penguins from firing pucks into their net, that dubious streak will live on for at least another year.
After surrendering seven goals in a pair of its two losses in Pittsburgh, New York has its proverbial back against the wall entering Game 5 at home Wednesday. Bookmakers like the Rangers’ chances to survive for at least one more game, with New York a home favorite on the NHL playoff odds board.
Should the Penguins prevail, they’ll become the second team to earn a berth in the second round, joining the Colorado Avalanche, who swept out the Nashville Predators. The six other best-of-7 series are targeted for at least six games. That includes Capitals vs. Panthers and Stars vs. Flames, whose battles resume Wednesday night.
Props.com breaks down NHL playoff odds and action for each of Wednesday’s trio of Game 5s.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 5:45 p.m. ET on May 11.
Penguins vs Rangers (Game 5)
Puck Drop/TV: 7 p.m. ET/ESPN
Moneyline: Rangers -140/Penguins +120
Puckline: Rangers -1.5 (+180)/Penguins +1.5 (-220)
Total: 6.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
Series to date: Penguins lead, 3-1
Adjusted series odds: Penguins -650/Rangers +475
Slap shots: Pittsburgh broke open a 1-1 contest with a five-goal second period on the way to a 7-2 blowout victory in Game 4 as a consensus -103 home underdog. Monday’s game soared past the 6-goal total, bringing the Over to 4-0 in the series (34 goals).
Betting nuggets: Since a 4-3, three-overtime thriller in Game 1, the last three contests have been decided by 3, 3 and 5 goals. … Rangers goaltender — and presumptive Vezina Trophy winner — Igor Shesterkin was yanked for the second straight contest Monday. Shesterkin has allowed 16 goals in the series, including 10 of the 14 that Pittsburgh tallied in the last two games. … Of the 34 goals scored in the series, 17 have come in the second period. … New York is now 1-9 in its last 10 postseason contests. … Even with their Game 1 victory at Madison Square Garden, the Penguins have just three wins in their last 11 road games. … The home team has won 13 of the last 17 in this rivalry. … Going back to the regular season, these teams have topped the total in five straight meetings. The Over is also 5-0 in Pittsburgh’s last five overall and 6-0 in New York’s last six overall.
Prediction: Penguins 5, Rangers 2
Capitals vs Panthers (Game 5)
Puck Drop/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN 2
Moneyline: Panthers -240/Capitals +200
Puckline: Panthers -1.5 (+105)/Capitals +1.5 (-125)
Total: 6.5 (Over -125/Under +105)
Series to date: Tied 2-2
Adjusted series odds: Panthers -260/Capitals +210
Slap shots: Trailing 2-1 on the scoreboard in Game 4 and facing the prospect of going down 3-1 in the series, the Panthers pulled goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and scored the equalizer with 2:04 left on the clock to send the game to overtime. Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe, who tallied his team’s first goal, then scored the game-winner nearly five minutes into the extra session. The Panthers prevailed as a -179 road chalk, and the game stayed well below the 6.5-goal total. The Under is now 3-1 in the series.
Betting nuggets: Monday’s contest was the first one-goal game of the series. The first three were decided by 2, 4 and 5 goals. … Going back to the second regular-season matchup on Nov. 27, the teams have alternated wins and losses in eight straight clashes. … The home team is 6-2 in the season series. … The Capitals are 2-6 in their last eight games (one overtime loss). … With the Game 4 defeat, Washington fell to 20-17-6 at home. However, the Caps are 26-11-6 on the road. … Florida is 47-11 in its last 58 home games. … Prior to this series, the Over had cashed in eight consecutive Capitals-Panthers clashes.
Prediction: Panthers 6, Capitals 2
Stars vs Flames (Game 5)
Puck Drop/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET/ESPN
Moneyline: Flames -220/Stars +185
Puckline: Flames -1.5 (+115)/Stars +1.5 (-140)
Total: 5.5 (Over +105/Under -125)
Series to date: Tied 2-2
Adjusted series odds: Flames -225/Stars +185
Slap shots: Calgary scored the first three goals in Monday’s Game 4 and rolled to a series-tying 4-1 road victory. The Flames cashed as a consensus -161 road favorite, and the game fell short of the 5.5-goal total. The Under is 3-1 in a series that has featured just 14 goals, with each team scoring seven.
Betting nuggets: Calgary now has a 4-3 edge in the season series. The winning team has scored exactly four goals in five of the seven games. … Even with the Stars cashing as big underdogs in Games 2 and 3, the favorite remains on a 7-3 roll in this rivalry. … Dallas is 1-4 in its last four road games (all as an underdog), while the Flames are 4-1 in their last five at home. The lone exception for both squads was the Stars’ Game 1 win in Calgary. … Dallas has scored two goals or fewer in nine of their last 13 games. … Calgary tallied a total of six goals in five games prior to Monday’s four-goal outburst. … The Over was on a 3-0-1 roll in this rivalry before this series.
Prediction: Flames 3, Stars 0
NHL Playoffs Odds & Action Updates
Penguins vs Rangers
UPDATED 5:50 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The Rangers hit WynnBet’s NHL playoff odds board as a -135 favorite and that’s where the moneyline remained until nudging up to Rangers -140/Penguins +120 mere moments to go. The fact New York is in a must-win situation is resonating with WynnBet customers, as 69% of all wagers and 86% of the cash is on the home team. The total was initially 6/Over -120, but two hours ago WynnBet bumped the number to 6.5/Under -115, where it currently stands. Ticket count is running 5/1 and money 4/1 on the Over.
UPDATED 1:10 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: New York opened a -130 favorite on DraftKings’ Wednesday NHL playoff odds board for Game 5. The moneyline ticked up to -135 Tuesday evening, returned to the opener this morning, and is now back to Rangers -135/Penguins +115. Early action at DraftKings shows 58% of the bets and 77% of the money on New York. The total opened at 6 (Over -120), with the juice adjusting to -125 Tuesday afternoon. About two hours ago, though, DraftKings bumped the number to 6.5 (Under -120). Not surprisingly, given the fact the first four games in the series have jumped the total, almost all the early tickets and dollars (both 93%) are on the Over.
Capitals vs Panthers
UPDATED 5:50 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Florida opened as a -220 favorite at WynnBet for Game 5, with Washington at +185. The line then inched to Panthers -225/Capitals +190 before shooting to Panthers -240/Capitals +200. That’s where the price remains less than two hours before puck drop, with the action tilting heavily to Florida at 80% tickets and 82% cash. The total opened at 6.5/Over -120 and is now 6.5/Over -125, with 75% of all bets and 92% of all dollars on the Over.
UPDATED 1:10 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: DraftKings installed Florida as a -225 favorite for Game 5 back on Monday night. The moneyline subsequently dipped to -220, then shot up to -230 before reverting back to the -225 opener. It’s currently Panthers -225/Capitals +185. Bettors are backing Florida to the tune of 71% bets/76% money. The total opened at 6.5 and has held there, with juice moves from Over -125 to -130 to -120 and now back to Over -125. The Over is taking 63% of the tickets and 84% of the cash.
Stars vs Flames
UPDATED 5:50 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: WynnBet initially installed Calgary as a -220 home favorite for Game 5, with Dallas +180 on the take-back. The Flames remain -220 on the moneyline, while the Stars have nudged up a smidge to +185. Almost all the action is on the host in this one, with 89% tickets and a whopping 97% money on Calgary. The total opened at 5.5 flat and is now 5.5/Under -125 amid betting splits of 54% tickets/58% cash on the Under.
UPDATED 1:10 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Calgary hit DraftKings’ NHL playoff odds board early Tuesday morning as a -210 favorite and has since bounced between -210 and -225. The moneyline is now at Flames -220/Stars +180, with DraftKings bettors hammering Calgary to this point, at 75% wagers/85% dollars. The total opened at 5.5 (Under -125) and is now 5.5 (Under -130). There’s solid two-way action on the total, with 58% of bets on the Over and 52% of cash on the Under.
