The pendulum has officially swung once again. The New York Rangers (63-28-3-5) now have their backs up against the wall in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they certainly aren't out of things going into Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning (61-31-3-5).
ODDS ANALYSIS
It's almost comical how this series has gone. Three times we have seen a team seemingly take momentum away from the other team, and three times, we have seen that momentum swing back the opposite way.
The consistency though, has been in the fact that all these games have had relatively close spreads. The closing number of New York -145 in Game 5 was probably far too high, but don't be stunned if we see Tampa favored by the same margin on Tuesday night.
GOALIE REPORT
Your move, Henrik Lundqvist.
Ben Bishop came back from his two miserable games to post a shutout in Game 5 against the Rangers, his second clean sheet of this postseason.
Lundqvist wasn't terrible in Game 5 by any stretch of the imagination though, and if he stops 20-of-22 shots again in Game 6, the Blueshirts will probably live to see another day.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"If we're going to have any chance of winning, that's how we have to do it. And you look at the way sometimes you get caught up, and we did, judging our game on how many scoring chances we get; and really you should judge your game on how many you give up." – Lightning head coach Jon Cooper praising his team's defensive effort in Game 5 at MSG
SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Lightning put themselves in some perilous positions in Game 5, taking four penalties in the first half of the game. Things tightened up in the second half of the game though, and New York was the one going to the box twice. Tampa got the only goal on the power play of the game, though the argument could be made that the crucial factors were the four penalties the Lightning successfully killed.
PROP TALK
Oh the stars, they are starting to shine again. Steven Stamkos now has a goal in four games in a row in this series, but we aren't looking at backing him on Tuesday.
Instead, we want a piece of Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash. These two were brilliant in Game 4 here at Amalie Arena, and we have a feeling they’re going to shine again after a very dull Game 5 at home.
New York needs it now from these men more than ever before, and if it is going to live to fight another day, it'll be with its stars.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
The Rangers had nothing going to the net in Game 5, and Alain Vigneault is clearly going to change that going into Game 6. Sure, the Tampa Bay defense deserves a lot of credit for the way that it played, but we know that New York is capable of pushing traffic forward.
We think that Bishop is going to end up struggling in this one once again to pour the pressure back on the Bolts going back to New York. Look for Nash and St. Louis to take over as they did in Game 4 in what might feel like a bit of a repeat performance.
New York 3, Tampa Bay 1
The NHL lines for this Tuesday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. Minute-by-minute puck-lines, totals, moneylines and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering today! Game 6 of this series between the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning will commence on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The contest will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.
