Tampa Bay vs Rangers Prediction: the Lightning to Level the Score in the Eastern Conference Finals

Prediction for the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Rangers match, which will take place on June 8. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Tampa Bay is the champion of the last two Stanley Cups. They are on the way to winning their third title. The roster has changed noticeably before the start of the season, which has added to John Cooper's difficulties, but his charges continue to contend for the trophy. In the first round, the Lightning beat Toronto 4:3 in a brutal struggle but quickly overcame Florida 4:0 in the Eastern semifinals. However, goals by Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Ondrej Palat brought Tampa Bay a 3:2 win.

The Rangers spent all the last years on the lineup rebuilding, so they seldom made it to the Cup battles. Still, they could make the playoffs and the Eastern Conference Finals, beating Pittsburgh and Carolina 4:3 each. The series against Tampa Bay began for the New York team surprisingly quickly. In the first two meetings at home, they outplayed their opponent - 6:2 and 3:2, creating a comfortable margin before the away game. In the third game, Gerard Galland's wards defended well for a period and a half and took a 2:0 lead, but then mistakes and penalties followed, losing 2:3.

Tampa Bay is extremely experience. They are the champions of the last two Stanley Cup and suffered some painful failures in previous years, so now they understand very well how to avoid them. During the series with Toronto the team has already found ways to get themselves out of the heavy defeat. So in the confrontation with the Rangers things arent lost, as they proved the day before by making a save in the third game. Now the Lightning will have a psychological advantage, while the Blue Jackets might waver.

• Tampa Bay has won their last five straight games at home.
• The Rangers have failed four of their last five away matches.
• The Rangers have beaten Tampa Bay in five of the six head-to-head meetings.

The Rangers and Tampa Bay have made it to the high stage due to great defense and goaltending. Andrei Vasilevsky and Igor Shestyorkin are terrific in cup battles, even though the field players occasionally try to knock them out. Still, in their previous five encounters, the Lightning and NY have scored just 25 goals (5.00 on average).

Ondrej Palat is an experienced player who has spent his entire overseas career with Tampa Bay, going through all the ups and downs. He did not have exceptional statistics in the last regular season with 49 points (18 goals + 31 assists) in 77 games but he improved in the playoffs sending six pucks and four assists in 14 games. Moreover, the day before, his puck in the last minute earned the win for the Southerners. Obviously, the Czech is in good form.

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