The Eastern Conference Finals shift back to New York for a pivotal Game 5. Simulating Florida vs. New York Game 5 in NHL 24
After NHL 24 predicted the correct winner and score for Game 3 between the Rangers and Panthers, they couldn’t follow it up with a correct Game 4 prediction.
In our Game 4 simulation, New York and Florida combined for an entertaining eight-goal third period, which saw the Blueshirts coming out on top 6-5.
The real life Game 4 didn’t have the offensive onslaught EA foreshadowed it to have. But it did end thrillingly with a Sam Reinhart powerplay overtime-winner, making the remaining three games of the Eastern Conference Finals a best-of-three.
The Rangers could be making changes in their lineup based on their morning skate. Captain Jacob Trouba was skating on a defense pair with Erik Gustafsson, and Braden Schneider was working alongside K’Andre Miller.
Filip Chytil appears to be coming back in after he missed Game 4 due to load management. Kaapo Kakko skated on New York’s third line with Jack Roslovic and Alexander Wennberg, however, he stayed out late with the projected scratches, while Blake Wheeler was with the regulars.
New York's Projected Lines:
Kreider - Zibanejad - Chytil
Panarin - Trocheck - Lafreniere
Roslovic - Wennberg - Wheeler
Cuylle - Goodrow - Rempe
Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Schneider
Gustafsson - Trouba
Shesterkin
Quick
The Hockey News Site Editor, David Dwork, reported no lineup changes for the away team Florida.
Florida's Projected Lines:
Verhaeghe - Barkov - Reinhart
Rodrigues - Bennett - Tkachuk
Luostarinen - Lundell - Tarasenko
Lorentz - Stenlund - Okposo
Forsling - Ekblad
Mikkola - Montour
Ekman-Larsson - Kulikov
Bobrovsky
Stolarz
In the simulation, Aleksander Barkov scored the opening goal less than three minutes into the game. However, New York controlled play the rest of the way in the first, outshooting the Panthers 14-7 and getting an equalizer from Chris Kreider.
Sam Bennett and Chris Kreider scored 2:10 within each other in the second period as the game was all knotted up at two heading into the third.
It looks hilarious when an AI takes a tripping penalty in NHL 24 because it always looks like the most needless stick check. While skating behind Dmitry Kulikov, Vincent Trocheck goes for one of those needless poke checks and takes a tripping penalty with less than two minutes on the clock.
On Florida’s powerplay, Vladimir Tarasenko sent a shot from the point toward the net where Matthew Tkachuk activated his Big Tipper ability, and scored the game-winner. Brandon Montour added an empty-net goal to seal the win for the Panthers in the simulation.
Bobrovsky posted a .939 save percentage, stopping 31 of 33 shots. Florida received production out of all their top guns outside of Carter Verhaeghe.
Chris Kreider has gone quiet thus far in the East Final, having been held off the scoresheet in the series’ first four games. New York and every Rangers fan will be hoping that this simulation is a glimpse into what we may see out of their star left winger.
NHL 24 is 2-2 in guessing the correct winner for this series so far. Will they be batting above or below 50% after the conclusion of tonight’s game?