Lightning vs. Rangers Game 5: Top NHL Playoffs Betting Odds & Picks for Thursday, June 9 (2022)
Game 5 is set to get underway in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs as the New York Rangers host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite there being only one game on Thursday, there are still a couple of great betting angles to attack.
Below, I give out my two best bets for Thursday’s lone game.
These plays are one unit each, or 1% of your betting bankroll. Follow me on Twitter to get all of my plays on days without full write-ups.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Bet $10, Win $200 if Either Team Score a Goal >>
Tampa Bay Lightning (-130) @ New York Rangers (+110)
The series is now tied at 2-2 after the Tampa Bay Lightning took care of business on home ice. The home team has won each game in this series, a trend I expect to continue in Game 5.
This postseason, the New York Rangers are 8-1 on home ice (89%). On the flip side, the Lightning are just 4-4 on the road during the playoffs (50%).
Rangers starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been incredible during that stretch as he he has allowed two or fewer goals in six of those nine games. Over that span, Shesterkin boasts an incredible 0.948 save percentage.
In his two home games against the Lightning in this round, Shesterkin has stopped 76 of 82 shots for a 0.927 save percentage. Tampa Bay’s offense has struggled without star forward Brayden Point, especially when playing on the road.
Over their four road games without Point in the playoffs, the Lightning are averaging a mere 2.5 goals scored per game. Add to the fact that the Rangers’ fan base will be deafening inside of MSG during a pivotal Game 5, I think we will see the Rangers take a 3-2 series lead.
Best Bet: New York Rangers ML (+110)
Tampa Bay Lightning @ New York Rangers, o/u 5.5 (+120/-140)
Another trend I expect to continue in Game 5 is the under hitting, which has been the case in each of the last three games in this series. With the dominance of Vasilevskiy, the Lightning have seen five or fewer total goals scored in seven of their last nine games (78%).
Tampa Bay’s defense in front of Vasilevskiy has also been solid this postseason as they rank seventh out of the 16 teams in five-on-five expected goals against (xGA) per 60 minutes. On the flip side, their offense has struggled in the absence of star forward Brayden Point.
As I mentioned above, the Lightning are averaging only 2.5 goals scored per game over their four road contests without Point. It is evident that Point’s pace has been greatly missed from the Tampa Bay offense, as their game has slowed down immensely without him.
If you take out the four empty net goals the Lightning have scored in the eight games without Point in these playoffs, Tampa Bay is averaging just 2.5 goals scored per game. Across the ice, the brilliance of Shesterkin should continue.
Shesterkin has allowed two or fewer goals in eight of his past 11 starts, boasting an incredible 0.943 save percentage over that stretch. Over those 11 games, the total goals scored have gone under 5.5 eight times (73%).
Best Bet: Lightning/Rangers u5.5 (-140)
Best of luck!
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