Two squads currently on losing streaks, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers meet at Madison Square Garden in an Eastern Conference showdown. The matchup will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, March 30, and fans at home can witness it live on Sportsnet.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers Odds
Tampa Bay is 51-26 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 9.1 units this season. 47 of its outings have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just one has pushed. As an away team this season, the Bolts are 24-15 SU.
Tampa Bay currently touts the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 24.8 percent of its extra-man chances this year. Its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off only 75.8 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Bolts have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 5.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 13.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 29.5 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (42-20-3) has been the primary option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. Vasilevskiy did just play last night, however, so head coach Jon Cooper may choose to rest him and instead go with Louis Domingue (6-11 record, .891 save percentage, 3.46 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov (97 points) has tallied 38 goals and 59 assists, and has recorded multiple points 30 times. Stamkos has 27 goals and 59 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 52 games.
New York is 33-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 77 regular season matches, 41 of its games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just four have pushed. It’s 21-19 SU as the home team this year.
The Rangers have converted on 21.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
Rangers players have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, 3.2 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.0 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist has denied 29.1 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for the Rangers. Lundqvist has 25 wins, 35 losses, and seven OT losses to his name and has recorded a .915 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average this year.
Mats Zuccarello (16 goals, 35 assists) will pace the attack for the home team.
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
New York is 3-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Tampa Bay is 6-2 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
Six of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
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