It’s a repeat of last year’s Eastern Conference Final as the Lighting and Rangers prepare to open their seasons against each other at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday night.  Both teams will be Stanley Cup contenders, with the Rangers looking to hoist Lord Stanley for the first time since 1994, while the Bolts are aiming for a fourth straight Cup Final appearance.

New York is a slim -121 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.5.

Lightning vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds

Despite falling in six games in the last year’s conference final, New York actually swept the three-game regular-season series.  With the two best goalies in the world backstopping each team, Igor Shesterkin for the Rangers and Andrei Vasilevskiy for the Lightning, the total has gone Under in the last five head-to-heads.

Tampa Bay’s pre-season was underwhelming as they dropped four of five games, although they won the finale 5-2 against the Panthers.  They’ve generally started seasons strong over the last decade, winning eight of their last 10 season openers.  The Lightning are +986 to win the Stanley Cup and +271 to win the Atlantic Division.  They’re heavily favoured to make the playoffs at -769.

The Rangers also had an underwhelming pre-season, dropping four of six games.  They’ve managed to win just four of their last 10 season openers.  New York begins the season at +1666 to win the Stanley Cup and +349 to win the Metropolitan Division.  They’re -294 to make the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lighting are as close to a dynasty as any salary cap era team could hope for as they fell just two wins short of a third straight Stanley Cup championship last year.  The core of Vasilevskiy, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman remains in tact, but there were some big losses in the off-season.  Because of salary cap issues, winger Ondrej Palat and defenceman Jan Ruuta both left in free agency, while defenceman Ryan McDonagh was traded to Nashville.

Notable additions to the team include centre Vladislav Namestnikov and defencemen Ian Cole, Haydn Fleury and Philippe Meyers.  It’s worth noting, however, that Cole will not play as he has been suspended indefinitely by the Lightning for legal reasons.  Defenceman Mikhail Sergachev is listed as questionable for Tuesday, although he will likely play, after exiting Thursday’s pre-season game with an undisclosed injury.  Sergachev is expected to be a major piece of Tampa’s blue line after the departure of McDonagh.

New York Rangers

New York took a major step forward last season and will look to build off that success in 2022-23.  Key roster pieces largely remain, with the biggest losses being forwards Tyler Motte, Andrew Coppe, Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome as well as backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev.  The team continues to be led by a core of Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and last year’s Vezina Trophy winner, Shesterkin.

The biggest off-season additions to the Rangers are forwards Jimmy Vesey, Vincent Trochek and Ryan Carpenter as well as veteran backup goalie Jaroslav Halak.  Trouba had been dealing with an upper body injury that kept him out of practice last week, but he is expected to be ready for Tuesday.  Sammy Blais is listed as doubtful for the season opener after suffering an upper body injury in Saturday’s pre-season finale.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Rangers?

• Regular Season

Lightning Team Leaders

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 72
+ / -	Brandon Hagel 13
Shots	Steven Stamkos 167
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 65
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 23
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.51

NYR

Points	Artemi Panarin 50
+ / -	Adam Fox 23
Shots	Mika Zibanejad 174
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 41
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 21
GAA	Igor Shesterkin 2.45

• Regular Season

Rangers Team Leaders

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 72
+ / -	Brandon Hagel 13
Shots	Steven Stamkos 167
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 65
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 23
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.51

NYR

Points	Artemi Panarin 50
+ / -	Adam Fox 23
Shots	Mika Zibanejad 174
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 41
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 21
GAA	Igor Shesterkin 2.45

Injuries

Tampa Bay

Pat Maroon (LW)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 23 / 01 / 23

Nick Perbix (D)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 15 / 01 / 23

Zach Bogosian (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 06 / 01 / 23

Victor Hedman (D)

Out indefinitely Personal - 06 / 01 / 23

Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)

Ques Fri Illness - 06 / 01 / 23

Erik Cernak (D)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 29 / 12 / 22

Mikhail Sergachev (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 13 / 12 / 22

Vladislav Namestnikov (C)

Prob Thurs Lower Body - 13 / 12 / 22

Haydn Fleury (D)

Prob Tues Lower Body - 05 / 12 / 22

Rudolfs Balcers (LW)

Early Feb Upper Body - 25 / 11 / 22

NY Rangers

Ryan Lindgren (D)

Ques Sun Illness - 14 / 01 / 23

Artemi Panarin (LW)

Ques Sun Illness - 14 / 01 / 23

Vitali Kravtsov (RW)

Ques Sun Illness - 14 / 01 / 23

Julien Gauthier (RW)

Ques Mon Upper Body - 12 / 01 / 23

Julien Gauthier (RW)

Ques Thurs Upper Body - 11 / 01 / 23

Chris Kreider (LW)

Prob Thurs Upper Body - 11 / 01 / 23

Libor Hajek (D)

Out indefinitely Stomach - 09 / 01 / 23

Jaroslav Halak (G)

Ques Tues Illness - 09 / 01 / 23

Ryan Lindgren (D)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 01 / 23

Ryan Lindgren (D)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 01 / 23

Injuries

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Pat Maroon (LW)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 23 / 01 / 23	2-2	2-2	+ -
Maroon is tending to an undefined issue, but it is projected that he will face the Wild on Tuesday.
Nick Perbix (D)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 15 / 01 / 23	5-4	4-3-2	+ -
Perbix missed the last four games due to an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Wild.
Zach Bogosian (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 06 / 01 / 23	6-6	5-3-4	+ -
Bogosian was absent for the last game due to an undefined issue, and it remains to be seen if he will be in Tuesday's match against the Blue Jackets.
Victor Hedman (D)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 06 / 01 / 23	6-6	5-3-4	+ -
Hedman is away from the team for the birth of his child, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)	Ques Fri	Illness - 06 / 01 / 23	6-6	5-3-4	+ -
Vasilevskiy is ailing from an illness, and it is unknown if he will be active for Friday's clash against the Jets.
Erik Cernak (D)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 29 / 12 / 22	9-7	6-6-4	+ -
Cernak exited the last game with an undefined issue, and it is unknown if he will take on the Coyotes on Saturday.
Mikhail Sergachev (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 13 / 12 / 22	13-9	8-9-5	+ -
Sergachev has missed the previous two games due to an undefined injury, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
Vladislav Namestnikov (C)	Prob Thurs	Lower Body - 13 / 12 / 22	13-9	8-9-5	+ -
Namestnikov was held out of the previous contest with a lower-body issue, but it is likely that he will be available for Thursday's matchup against the Blue Jackets.
Haydn Fleury (D)	Prob Tues	Lower Body - 05 / 12 / 22	14-11	10-10-5	+ -
Fleury has missed the last three contests with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will suit up for Tuesday's matchup against the Kraken.
Rudolfs Balcers (LW)	Early Feb	Upper Body - 25 / 11 / 22	16-14	13-12-5	+ -
Balcers is on the injured reserve list with an upper-body injury, and he is not likely to be activated until the beginning of February.

NY Rangers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Ryan Lindgren (D)	Ques Sun	Illness - 14 / 01 / 23	4-3	1-6	+ -
Lindgren has come down with an illness, and it is unclear if he will lace up for Sunday's battle versus the Canadiens.
Artemi Panarin (LW)	Ques Sun	Illness - 14 / 01 / 23	4-3	1-6	+ -
Panarin has suffered a stomach bug, leaving his status for Sunday's game against the Canadiens in question.
Vitali Kravtsov (RW)	Ques Sun	Illness - 14 / 01 / 23	4-3	1-6	+ -
Kravtsov is battling a stomach bug, and it remains to be seen if he will take the ice on Sunday against the Canadiens.
Julien Gauthier (RW)	Ques Mon	Upper Body - 12 / 01 / 23	4-4	2-6	+ -
Gauthier has been activated from the injured reserve list after spending time on it due to an upper-body injury. It is unknown if he will return Monday versus the Panthers.
Julien Gauthier (RW)	Ques Thurs	Upper Body - 11 / 01 / 23	4-4	2-6	+ -
Gauthier left the previous game with an upper body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up against the Stars on Thursday.
Chris Kreider (LW)	Prob Thurs	Upper Body - 11 / 01 / 23	4-4	2-6	+ -
Kreider has sat out the last three games due to an upper-body injury, but he is expected to be available Thursday against the Bruins.
Libor Hajek (D)	Out indefinitely	Stomach - 09 / 01 / 23	5-4	3-6	+ -
Hajek is idle due to a stomach bug, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Jaroslav Halak (G)	Ques Tues	Illness - 09 / 01 / 23	5-4	3-6	+ -
Halak is dealing with an illness, leaving his status for Tuesday's game against the Wild unclear.
Ryan Lindgren (D)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 07 / 01 / 23	6-4	3-7	+ -
Lindgren is battling an undisclosed injury, but he is expected to suit up against the Devils on Saturday.
Ryan Lindgren (D)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 06 / 01 / 23	6-4	3-7	+ -
Lindgren is managing an undefined injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Devils on Saturday.