2024 Eastern Conference Final: Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers Game 2 Open Thread

For the first time in the postseason, the Blueshirts find themselves trailing a series. After getting shut out in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday, Peter Laviolette's squad will look to rebound and salvage a split of the opening two games before heading down to Florida to square off against the Panthers on their home ice.

Florida suffocated New York offensively for the majority of Game 1, as dangerous chances were few and far between until the latter stages of the third period of what was then a 1-0 contest. Laviolette opted to throw the usual forward lines into the blender midway through the game in an effort to find an offensive spark, but the effort proved fruitless. Whether Laviolette opts to return to the previous lines or throw some new combinations at the Panthers, the Rangers will need to find a way to beat Sergei Bobrovksy if they want to tie this series up.

Player to Watch: Adam Fox

Fox didn't do anything particularly noteworthy in the opening 60 minutes of the series, and that will need to change if the Rangers want to draw even in the series. Fox is likely playing injured, still ailing from the knee-on-knee collision he suffered with Washington's Nick Jensen in the first round, but will need to find a way to spark New York's offense tonight. Keep en eye on New York's franchise defenseman as the Blueshirts attempt to win Game 2.

Enjoy the game!