New York vs. Florida

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers tend to play their finest in the biggest games. This is one of those games, the Winter Classic against the Rangers. It is being held outdoors at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of baseball's Miami Marlins. There could be 30,000 in attendance, and the game is being nationally televised on TNT. The Panthers have won five of the past six meetings in this series. Florida is off a 3-2 home overtime loss to Montreal from this past Tuesday. The Rangers are on less rest. They fell to the Capitals on the road, 6-3, two days ago. The Rangers are 31st in scoring. Florida ranks 12th in scoring and is sixth in expected goals. There is a chance that star forward Matthew Tkachuk could make his season debut for the Panthers. That would be a bonus. Sergei Bobrovsky has looked better in the net for the Panthers. The veteran goalie went 7-2-1 with a 2.67 GAA in 10 December starts after posting a 3.43 GAA in nine November outings. Take the Panthers.