Rangers & Cats set up for a Sunrise standoff

There are several parallels to draw between the Rangers and Panthers when it comes to how they have found success so far.

Florida is quietly nestling itself atop the Atlantic Division and proving its trip to the Stanley Cup Final last year was no flash in the pan. Paul Maurice has sustained a playoff style of hockey into this season with a hard-nosed forecheck that creates chances in the offensive zone at five-on-five play.

When I say “quietly,” I mean the Cats don’t produce tons of “Sports Center” material with high-danger scoring generation off the rush. They play a patient, dump-and-chase game that is supported with responsible puck decisions and reliable goaltending.

Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz have combined to anchor Florida with a 2.59 GAA and both players sit in positive territory in goals saved above expected.

Does all of this sound familiar? Igor Shesterkin just picked up another signature 5-1 win over Washington. He and Jonathan Quick have each stopped over 90 percent of shots they have faced.

Both the Rangers and Panthers have also had some of the league’s most resilient penalty killing, ranking within the top 10.

For all that is similar, the differences between these two will make for an intriguing clash on Friday night in Sunrise.

The Rangers are No. 10 in goal scoring and Artemi Panarin may be chasing Jaromir Jagr’s franchise record for points in a season, but they aren’t a strong puck possession team.

Florida is No. 2 overall in puck possession, but their actual goal scoring compared to their expected rate is not showing up on the score sheet; the Cats have scored at a league-low pace.

Sam Reinhart is en route to a career season with 42 points through 34 games, but Florida still has relied on role players to step up. All four lines and three defensive pairs have scoring potential; it’s just a matter of who on which night.

That’s not to say the Rangers haven’t had clutch help from depth players such as Jimmy Vesey or young defenseman K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider, either. The Rangers have just found more production through the confident, free-flowing play that Peter Laviolette has masterfully implemented.

All things considered, the primary similarities between these two qualified, poised teams should negate each other on Friday.

THE PLAY: Rangers-Panthers Under 6.5.