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Game One Between the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers Kicks off Conference Final

By Conor Power

Mar 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) battle for control of the puck in the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) battle for control of the puck in the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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It's finally time for the New York Rangers to compete in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Florida Panthers are the team that will oppose them heading into this series. Florida made it to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, and they know they have a good chance of defending their crown in the Eastern Conference. If the Rangers can overcome the Cats, they will play for the Stanley Cup. This is it; the first to four wins move on. 

Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler are completely available ahead of game one tonight. Wheeler suffered a scary leg injury that saw him miss half the season. Chytil sustained a concussion against Carolina early in the year but returned for game 3 in the series against the Hurricanes. An illness ruled him out for the remainder of that clash, but he is all good now. He expects to play his first game at the garden since he was concussed in November. 

The Panthers are expected to be healthy on their right ahead of this series. It took them a little longer to progress past the Bruins, but they are capable of causing issues for the Rangers with the counterattacking style of play. It will be a clash of systems as Maurice's sponge-like approach to absorbing pressure and breaking meets Laviolette's 1-3-1 defensive block. Can the Rangers win the battle of attrition? 

Projected Lineups 

Florida Panthers 

Vladimir Tarasenko - Aleksander Barkov - Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe - Anton Lundell - Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Loustarinen - Sam Bennett - Evan Rodrigues
Ryan Lomberg - Kevin Stenlund - Nick Cousins
Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola - Brandon Montour
Oliver Ekman-Larson - Dmitry Kulikov
Sergei Bobrovsky
Anthony Stolarz

New York Rangers

Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Filip Chytil - Alex Wennberg - Kaapo Kakko
Will Cuylle - Barclay Goodrow - Jimmy Vesey
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller - Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson - Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick 

Puck Drop 

Tonight's game will start at 8 p.m. Eastern from Madison Square Garden as these two teams fight for the right to play for the Stanley Cup. This will be a tough battle between two of the best teams in the NHL. With a win tonight, the Rangers can continue their quest for their first Stanley Cup in 30 years. Florida are looking for the first cup in franchises history. Both teams know these first two games at MSG are vital. 

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