The NHL betting action continues with Game 4 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals between New York and Tampa Bay, so here’s the best Rangers vs. Lightning betting pick for Tuesday, June 7. 

According to BetOnline Sportsbook, the Lightning are -173 home favorites to win this battle at Amalie Arena. The Rangers are +156 moneyline dogs, and the totals are listed at 5.5 goals.  

New York dropped Game 3, put an end to its winning streak                           

The New York Rangers blew a huge opportunity to grab a 3-0 lead in the conference finals. Despite a 2-0 lead midway through the second period of Game 3 in Tampa, the Rangers suffered a painful 3-2 defeat to put an end to their four-game winning streak. 

Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider converted a couple of power-play opportunities last Sunday, but the Rangers allowed the Bolts to respond with a pair of power-play goals. With just 42 seconds left on the clock in the third period, the Lightning hit the winner and ruined the Rangers’ afternoon at Amalie Arena. 

Igor Shesterkin had another tremendous game between the pipes. He yielded three goals but also had a whopping 49 saves. The 26-year-old netminder has been outstanding since the start of the second round. Shesterkin is now 10-6 with a 2.62 GAA and .930 save percentage in the 2022 Stanley Cup, while Mika Zibanejad leads the way for skaters with ten goals and 14 assists. 

The Bolts’ dream of a three-peat is still alive                   

The Tampa Bay Lightning suffered a heavy 6-2 defeat in the opening game of the conference finals. They outshot New York 39-34 but surrendered four unanswered goals. The Bolts lost 3-2 in Game 2 while outshooting the Rangers 31-28. 

The two-time defending champions were on the ropes in Game 3 at home. They found a way to bounce back and grab a huge victory, taking a thumping 52 shots toward Igor Shesterkin. The Bolts surrendered 30 shots in a return, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 for his ninth win of the postseason. 

Through his 14 starts in the 2022 NHL Playoffs, Vasilevskiy has posted a 2.54 GAA and .922 save percentage. Nikita Kucherov leads the way for Tampa Bay with six goals and 14 assists, while Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat have accounted for six goals apiece. 

Trends:

NY Rangers: 

  • 3-7 in the last ten playoff games when listed as underdogs  

Tampa Bay:

  • 7-2 in the last nine games overall 
  • 5-0 in the last five games at home 

New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Pick 

The Rangers might lose the momentum after blowing a two-goal lead in Game 3. On the other side, the Lightning must be fired up following a huge comeback, so I’ll stick with the reigning champs and take Tampa Bay to win. 

Of course, the Rangers have the most dominant player in this matchup. I’m expecting the Bolts to control the flow of this clash, but they’ll need a ton of shots to beat Igor Shesterkin and outscore the Rangers. 

Pick: Take Tampa Bay Lightning at -173           

The Total:

As I’ve mentioned in the previous preview, backing the under in this matchup is the only reasonable move. Igor Shesterkin is arguably the best goaltender in hockey, while Andrei Vasilevskiy is not far away from Igor’s standard. 

On the other hand, the line is a tricky one at 5.5 goals. The under backers were pretty lucky to see the last two games finish 3-2 without an empty-net goal down the stretch. 

Pick: Go under 5.5 goals at -125