Best Bets for Tonight's NHL Eastern Conference Final Game 5

Tampa Bay Awoke From Its Slumber At Home

The Tampa Bay Lightning were down two games to none on Sunday afternoon and down 2-0 in Game 3. Then, the Lightning started to see things click. The shooting was more accurate, the power-play had more movement, and finally, they saw Igor Shesterkin was human.

The Lightning rallied for three straight goals to win Game 3. After that, Game 4 turned into a more even affair. Tampa Bay had 13 of the 19 high-danger chances. Also, their goals expected was almost a whole goal tilted toward the Lightning on Tuesday night.

The key was Tampa Bay getting its top players going. In Game 4, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov scored as they built a 3-0 lead. Though New York scored a late power-play goal, Ondrej Palat slammed the door shut with an empty-net goal. That made the final margin 4-1 in Game 4. 

Possession was not that tilted, but as we said, Tampa’s game of controlled counter-attacks helped them outwait an increasingly impatient Rangers team. 

With the series heading back to New York, everything sets up for the pivotal Game 5. The team that wins Game 5 wins the series nearly 80% of the time.

Tampa Bay And New York – The Big Battle

The Tampa Bay Lightning won Games 3 and 4 at home to make this a series. After four games, Tampa is back as a very slight favourite, just as Canadian bettors expected.

How will New York respond? It has not lost at home since Game 1 of the first round. That was the epic triple-overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Shesterkin looked human in Tampa Bay during Games 3 and 4. He did not make the outstanding saves as often in New York. Going home will be helpful. Andrei Vasilevskiy got back into his “good playoff form.” He did not allow a single-strength goal in Tampa. 

Yes, there are things to clean up. However, most expect a better Game 5 compared to 1 and 2 from the Lightning.

Brayden Point remains out for Game 5. He is skating but is not ready to return to the lineup. Will he be back by Game 6? No one truly knows.

Tampa Bay has to stay out of the box again and convert its opportunities. Scoring first and being able to play downhill is essential to victory. That goes for both teams.

Some Quick Picks

Ontario sports betting players should smile as home teams in the East continue to deliver on the moneyline. Can Tampa Bay flip that script and finally win on the road?

As for some wagers, do the New York Rangers bounce back? Does the Tampa Bay momentum continue to roll? Picks' time is now.

• New York 1st period moneyline: 2.10
• New York Rangers Over 2.5 goals: 1.87
• New York moneyline: 2.10 (2.60 in regulation)
• Tampa Bay / New York Over 5.5 goals: 2.20
• Mika Zibanejad anytime goal: 2.90
• Chris Kreider Over 2.5 shots: 1.91
• Mika Zibanejad Over 2.5 shots: 1.71
• Adam Fox Over 0.5 assists: 1.83
• Andrei Vasilevskiy save prop check the Under: 1.91

Good luck, ladies and gentlemen!