2024 Eastern Conference Final: Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers Game 5 Open Thread

After splitting Games 3 and 4 in Florida, the Eastern Conference Final has shifted back to Manhattan for the start of what is now a best of three series. As the Rangers prepare for what has the potential to be their final home game of the 2023-24 campaign, Peter Laviolette's squad will need to step up their game after being lucky to win one of the previous two contests.

With nine goals through four games, and eight of them coming off the sticks of Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, and Barclay Goodrow, the Blueshirts' stars will need to answer the bell. New York's special teams, which powered them to a 7-0 start to their postseason run, have gone cold en route to the team's 3-4 record over the last seven games. The Rangers have plenty of room for improvement, and those improvements must be made if they'd like tonight's action to not be the final hockey game at Madison Square Garden until next season.

Player to Watch: Chris Kreider

Alongside Mika Zibanejad, Kreider is one of New York's stars that has been MIA for the duration of the series. Since his Game 6 heroics in the second round to push the Rangers into the final four, Kreider has yet to find the score sheet against the Panthers. He'll need to bust out of his slump in order for the Rangers to pull out a win, so keep an eye on Kreider in Game 5.

Enjoy the game!