The 2022 Stanley Cup betting action goes on with Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between New York and Tampa Bay, so we bring you the best Rangers vs. Lightning betting pick and odds for Saturday, June 11.  

Tampa Bay is one win away from the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. According to BetDSI Sportsbook, the Lightning are firm -190 home favorites for Game 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, while the Rangers are +160 moneyline dogs with a total of 5.5 goals.  

The Rangers need to stay focused for all 60 minutes                          

The New York Rangers are riding a three-game losing streak following a 3-1 defeat to the Bolts in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden this past Thursday. They took a lead midway through the second period but surrendered three unanswered goals. Just like they did in Game 3 when the Rangers blew a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat at Amalie Arena. 

New York took 25 shots last Thursday, and Ryan Lindgren scored his second goal of the postseason. The rest of the team didn’t help a lot. The Rangers had a whopping 27 giveaways, while Igor Shesterkin yielded a couple of goals on 26 shots. 

Shesterkin has done a good job throughout this series, but the Rangers desperately need more from skaters. Since scoring six goals in Game 1, New York has notched just seven goals in the next four outings. 

The Bolts continue to grind                   

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been unstoppable since the third period of Game 3 when Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat erased the Rangers’ lead to cut the deficit in the 2022 Western Conference Finals. The Bolts dominated Game 4 at home, grabbing a comfortable 4-1 victory, while Palat had one goal and a couple of dishes. 

Tampa Bay showed the poise of a two-time defending champ in Game 5 at The Garden. The Bolts’ blue line held the Rangers in check, while Ondrej Palat scored his eighth goal of the postseason. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev had one goal and an assist, and Brandon Hagel sealed the victory on an empty net. 

Andrei Vasilevskiy had 24 saves last Thursday. The 27-year-old netminder posted on another strong performance and will carry an 11-5 record, 2.35 GAA, and .927 save percentage into Saturday’s clash. 

Trends:

NY Rangers: 

  • 3-9 in the last 12 playoff games when listed as underdogs 
  • 2-5 in the last seven road games against Tampa Bay 

Tampa Bay:

  • 9-2 in the last 11 games overall 
  • 6-0 in the last six games at home  

New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Pick 

The Lightning scored a couple of late goals to prevail over the Rangers in Game 5. We should see another great battle in Game 6, and I’m riding the two-time defending champions to win again and clinch their spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. 

Mika Zibanejad was a non-factor in the previous two games, and the Rangers need more from their star center. New York owns one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, but Tampa Bay possesses great depth, while Andrei Vasilevskiy is a top-notch goalie, too. 

Pick: Take Tampa Bay Lightning at -190           

The Total:

As I’ve mentioned a few times, the under is the only way to go when Shesterkin and Vasilevskiy guard the cages. After a high-scoring opener, the under has hit in four straight contests. The eventual empty-net goal can ruin my wager, but I’ll stick with the under. 

The Rangers have to find their offensive groove if they want to stay alive. But they also need Shesterkin to keep the Bolts off the scoreboard for as long as possible. 

Pick: Go under 5.5 goals at -145