Best Bets for Rangers vs. Lightning, Game 6 at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Played A Textbook Road Game Against New York

The Lightning played like a machine against New York on Thursday night. As the game went on, the opportunities seemed to lessen for the Rangers. Gradually, Tampa Bay started to garner more scoring chances themselves.

The Lightning fell behind early in the second period but quickly tied the game. Mikhail Sergachev got one past Igor Shesterkin to knot the game at one after 40 minutes. New York had chances. Everyone will talk about Ryan Strome missing the wide-open net, but New York did not draw many penalties.

Some will argue that a few calls could have gone New York’s way, but after Jacob Trouba tried to take out Ondrej Palat’s head, that fell on deaf ears. Palat ducked in a sequence more resembling a Looney Tunes cartoon. 

The keys were Tampa Bay staying disciplined and scoring timely goals. Ondrej Palat tipped home a Sergachev shot from the point with just a few minutes left in regulation. Tampa then added an empty-net goal to make the final margin 3-1.

Possession was not that tilted, but as we said, Tampa’s game of controlled counter-attacks helped it wear down a Rangers team not completely 100%. Officially, Tampa Bay generated 10 of the final 11 high-danger scoring chances.

With the series heading down to Tampa Bay for Game 6, the Lightning has a chance to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Final starting next week.

Tampa Bay And New York: Keys To Game 6

The Tampa Bay Lightning have won three straight games and stand on the brink as New York faces elimination again. 

New York has now been down three games to two in every series. The Rangers rallied from 3-1 down against Pittsburgh, then from 3-2 down against Carolina. Can they do it one more time?

How will New York respond? It lost at home. Could this be 2015, where New York rallies in Game 6 in Tampa Bay? 

Shesterkin must outplay Vasilevskiy and be superhuman. There are zero margins for error as Tampa Bay will look to end this series and gradually impose its will. New York must find its offense at even strength and make the most of its transitional opportunities. It has not done much in Games 3, 4, and 5. 

Yes, Tampa could play a bit better. Will Brayden Point return for Game 6? That remains unknown currently. Even in a small role, that would be a massive life for a Tampa Bay team that keeps answering the bell every time it gets knocked down. 

If Game 6 features fewer whistles, that benefits the Lightning. Suppose the game features more penalties; that likely helps the Rangers. However, Tampa Bay is a favourite for a reason. It is the champs!

Some Final Numbers Fun

Ontario sports bettors should consider betting modestly in this Game 6. Be smart and go easy. If one had bet Tampa Bay after Game 2, that 3.25 number looks pretty good.

As for some wagers, do the Rangers bounce back? Does the Lightning eliminate New York? Let’s look at some picks.

• Tampa Bay in regulation: 1.80
• New York Rangers Hedge in Regulation Possible: 3.30
• Tampa Bay / New York Over 5.5 goals: 2.25
• Nikita Kucherov anytime goal: 2.50
• Ondrej Palat anytime goal: 3.45
• Ondrej Palat Over 0.5 points: 1.80
• Chris Kreider Under 2.5 shots: 1.91
• Igor Shesterkin over save prop when released: 1.91
• Adam Fox Over 0.5 assists: 1.67
• Andrei Vasilevskiy save prop check the Under: 1.91

Good luck, ladies and gentlemen.