The 2026 NHL Winter Classic will take place on Friday, Jan. 2, with the Florida Panthers hosting the New York Rangers at loanDepot park, home of MLB’s Miami Marlins.
The Panthers (21-15-3) and Rangers (19-18-5), who met in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, have gone in different directions since that series.
Florida has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, while New York missed the playoffs last season and sits near the bottom of the East standings.
To prepare for Friday’s contest, let’s dive into my Rangers vs Panthers predictions for the Winter Classic.
Rangers vs Panthers Odds
All NHL odds used for these Rangers vs Panthers best bets are current as of Friday, Jan. 2, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Rangers (+120) vs Panthers (-142)
- Puck Line: Rangers +1.5 (-218) vs Panthers -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) / Under 5.5 (-105)
Rangers vs Panthers Predictions for 2026 NHL Winter Classic
Rangers ML (+120)
New York has been a way better team on the road (14-8-2) this season than at Madison Square Garden (5-10-3), and it also has experience playing in these outdoor environments.
The Blueshirts own a 5-0-0 record in outdoor games, including a pair of Winter Classic victories in 2012 and 2018. Meanwhile, this will be Florida’s first outdoor contest.
While the Panthers have a deeper squad and are in a better run of form, I’m taking the plus-money odds and backing the Rangers to pull off the upset as one of my best hockey betting picks today.
Over 5.5 Goals (-115)
New York has been the NHL’s best team for betting unders this season (27-14-1), but its road record against the total (13-10-1 to the under) is a little more balanced.
On the other side, the Panthers have been a good team to target for overs (23-16), as they score and concede around 3.15 goals per game.
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I’m always inclined to take the over in outdoor games, as the goaltenders have to deal with new sightlines, and pucks are more likely to take odd bounces in potentially imperfect ice conditions.
Four of the last six Winter Classics have featured at least six goals, so I’ll back this game to go over this low total.
Sam Bennett: Anytime Goal (+170)
When considering my favorite Rangers vs Panthers prop bets, I’m backing Florida’s Sam Bennett to light the lamp.
The 29-year-old was a thorn in New York’s side in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, scoring four goals in the six-game series.
After a slow start to the season, Bennett got going in December, netting seven of his 13 goals for the campaign. He failed to score in his final three games of 2025, but I like his chances of starting 2026 with a goal outdoors.
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