Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers Game 2 Prediction, NHL Odds
The New York Rangers were home upset winners over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Bolts are again short favourites on the NHL odds for Game 2 on Friday.
Lightning vs. Rangers NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
With the Rangers up 1-0, they are now -127 series favorites (were +142) with the Lightning at -105 (were -192). On the lead after Game 3 special, New York is -263 and Tampa Bay +188. The favoured exact series result is still Lightning in six at +357, followed by in seven at +380 – strange considering New York is the overall favourite. The shortest odds for the Rangers winning is in seven at +404. That the series finishes in six games is +169 and in seven also +169. A sweep is +968.
On the updated Stanley Cup odds, Tampa Bay is +262 and New York +411.
Tampa Bay Lightning
This writer predicted a New York win in Game 1 because of the possibility that the Lightning were rusty having not played since May 23. Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said himself after the 6-2 victory that the Lightning were rusty. Markham native Steven Stamkos had a goal and assist for his 22nd career multi-point playoff game, tying Brayden Point and Victor Hedman for the third most in Lightning history. Tampa Bay allowed six goals in one game after allowing seven combined during a six-game winning streak going back to Game 6 of the first round against the Maple Leafs. Andrei Vasilevskiy, maybe the best playoff goaltender ever, had given up three goals on 154 shots during Tampa Bay’s second-round series against Florida. Vasilevskiy rarely has back-to-back poor games — in fact the Lightning have won 18 straight playoff games following a loss. That’s incredible.
New York Rangers
Teams that take a 1-0 series lead in the conference finals/semifinals advance to the Stanley Cup Final 69 percent of the time, but though both series winners last year lost Game 1. New York hadn’t won Game 1 of a playoff series yet this year; it dropped the opener in the first round vs. Pittsburgh but hasn’t lost at home since. New York’s “Kid Line” of Filip Chytil (two goals), former No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafrenière (two assists) and Kaapo Kakko (assist) dominated Wednesday. Chytil had his third game-winning goal of these playoffs. Defenseman Adam Fox had two assists and has at least one point in eight straight home playoff games, a franchise record. The Rangers have scored five or more goals in three straight playoff games for the fourth time in franchise history. New York’s Igor Shesterkin (37 saves) made at least 35 saves for the third straight game and seventh time overall in these playoffs. He is the first goaltender to post a seven-game home win streak in a playoff year since Corey Crawford with the Blackhawks in 2014.
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