The New York Rangers winning Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in front of a partisan Madison Square Garden crowd wasn’t a shocker. It was the manner of the Rangers’ victory that stunned many hockey observers. New York was able to put six pucks past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasileveskiy to take the series lead over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
NHL expert picks won’t be sure what to attribute to the Lightning’s poor performance. Tampa Bay, obviously, could be running out of steam following two consecutive Stanley Cup championship runs. The Lightning also had nine games off between the final game of their second-round series with the Florida Panthers and the opener with the Rangers.
Last game records
New York beat Tampa Bay 6-2 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers lead the series 1-0.
Matchup information
Lightning at Rangers Betting Analysis
Lightning Analysis
NHL betting stats show that the Lightning were able to get more shots on net than the Rangers. Tampa Bay held a 39-34 edge in getting pucks on goal. However, the Lightning were dominated in the face-off circle and went 0-for-3 on the power play.
Most concerning was how the Rangers were able to score against Vasilevsky. However, the Tampa Bay goaltender has a ton of playoff experience and isn’t likely to be shaken by one poor playoff performance. What the Lightning will have to do is keep playing well in front of him, Tampa Bay blocked 15 shots in Game 1.
Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat each scored in Game 1 for Tampa Bay.
Rangers Analysis
New York’s offense is finding plenty of ways to make their opponents pay in the playoffs. The Rangers have now scored six or more goals in two straight playoff games for the first time since they won the Stanley Cup in 1994. What has been nice for New York to see is they are getting scoring from different sources.
Center Filip Chytil, who scored eight goals in 67 regular-season games, has now scored seven times in 15 playoff games. He scored twice in Game 1 and has five goals in the Rangers’ last three games. Left winger Chris Kreider has led New York with nine goals during the postseason.
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin was able to measure up to his veteran counterpart in Game 1. Shesterkin stopped 37 of the 39 shots he faced.
Updates
New York left wing Sammy Blais is highly unlikely to return for the Eastern Conference finals. Tampa Bay center Brayden Point’s status is uncertain for Game 2, but it is also unlikely he plays.
- Tampa Bay is 46-48 against the puckline this season.
- New York is 51-46 against the puckline this season.
- The over has gone 50-42 in the Lightning’s games this season.
- The over has gone 42-52 in the Rangers’ games this season.
- Five of Tampa Bay’s last six games have gone under the total.
- The Rangers’ last three games have gone over the total.
Lightning at Rangers Betting Preview
NHL betting odds have the Lightning as -136 on the moneyline. New York is +116. Anyone looking to avoid choosing a side can make NHL betting picks on the total, which is set at 5.5 goals.
Lightning at Rangers Betting Prediction
The myth that New York could only score against the subpar goaltending it saw in the Pittsburgh and Carolina series is starting to be slowly chipped away at. The Rangers blasted Vasilevsky and continue to run hot at MSG. The last time New York lost at home in the playoffs was in a triple-overtime heartbreaker against the Penguins in the first game of the postseason.
Tampa Bay has too much experience to wilt under the spotlight of the Eastern Conference finals. However, getting a team this hot at home at plus money is a good spot to be the Rangers. While Tampa Bay may very well win this season, New York will continue its hot streak at home and take a 2-0 series lead.
How to be Lightning at Rangers
Bet New York +116.
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