Another year, another NHL Winter Classic.
This time, this Winter Classic is in a much different setting than we're used to. The New York Rangers head down south the Miami, Florida, to take on the defending two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park. Puck drop is expected to take place shortly after 8:00 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on TNT.
Let's dive into our NHL Winter Classic best bets and predictions for Friday, January 2.
NHL Winter Classic Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
| 8:00 p.m. | |
| 8:00 p.m. | |
| 8:00 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Rangers vs. Panthers
By Tony Sartori
Offensively, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox returned from injury in strong form on New Year’s Eve, recording a goal and an assist against the Washington Capitals.
At +525, it is worth taking a shot on Fox to score again in the Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers.
Florida has struggled defensively this season, surrendering high-danger scoring chances at a high rate. Entering this matchup, the Panthers rank 21st in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has struggled behind that play and is slated to start Friday. Through 27 starts this season, Bobrovsky owns an .888 SV%.
Pick: Adam Fox Over 0.5 Goals (+525)
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Rangers vs. Panthers
By Greg Liodice
Let's call the Rangers for what they are — an unmitigated disaster.
The Winter Classic will be the final game for the Rangers' six-game road trip, but they haven't made the most of it. Captain J.T. Miller had missed the whole road trip after getting hurt in New York's 5-4 shootout win against the Flyers, and since then, the Rangers have lost four out of their last five.
Florida, by no means, is a perfect team right now. It has missed captain Aleksander Barkov all season, as well as Matthew Tkachuk. Unfortunately, we won't see Tkachuk tonight, but there's hope that he returns soon.
As Tony alluded to, Sergei Bobrovsky has not been very good this season. He's 37 years old and has played a lot of hockey. But every once in a while, he wakes up and gets a burst of energy.
He's been really strong against high-danger shots in the past 10 games, with a 6.6 GSAx. Igor Shesterkin, on the other hand, has been a total sieve when teams apply pressure to him, posting a .762 SV% when facing high-danger opportunities.
It's clear both teams are going in opposite directions, which is why I plan on backing the home team.
Pick: Panthers ML (-142)
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Rangers vs. Panthers
By Tony Sartori
Bobrovsky should receive strong goal support, all things considered, as New York’s defense has been even worse than Florida’s. This season, the Rangers rank 24th in xGA/60.
Panthers forward Brad Marchand is as strong a candidate as any to take advantage of that poor defensive play. He enters this contest in excellent form, having scored in each of his past three games.
Marchand has also shown a knack for scoring in nationally televised games, particularly on TNT. He is a big-game player, and for a regular-season matchup in January, it rarely gets bigger than this.
Pick: Brad Marchand Over 0.5 Goals (+180)
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Rangers vs. Panthers
By Greg Liodice
Are we going to get a Sam Bennett revenge tour?
After getting snubbed from Team Canada in the upcoming Winter Olympics, Bennett has the chance to showcase his best hockey yet.
Bennett was a critical member of the Four Nations Face-Off tournament, and while his season hasn't been fantastic so far, we're starting to see some pick up. In the past 10 games, Bennett has generated the most high-danger opportunities on the Panthers, while also ranking first on the team in expected goals per 60 minutes.
Well, one other part of Bennett's game is that he's been peppering the net with pucks any chance he gets. He's currently third in shots attempted, and there have been plenty of instances where Bennett has hit the four-shot mark.
In the month of December, he's hit that mark six separate times, including a game against the Hurricanes where he fired 10 shots on goal.
An angry Bennett at plus money? I'm happy to sprinkle some units on this
Pick: Sam Bennett 4+ Goals (+175)
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