Lightning vs. Rangers Game 2 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds and Preview – June 3rd, 2022

By Hank Blaine • June 2, 2022

The New York Rangers upset the two-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals, but oddsmakers still favor the Lightning in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Nitrobetting preps you for the NHL Conference Finals clash in this Lightning vs. Rangers Game 2 preview. We share helpful insights that cover team and player stats and the latest NHL betting odds. You can also find timely betting trends and predictions that point you in the right direction.

Lightning vs. Rangers Game 2 Information

When: Friday, June 3, 2022, 8:00 PM ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
TV: ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS
Radio: 970 WFLA AM (Lightning) // ESPN New York 98.7FM (Rangers)
Live Stream: NHL Live
NHL Betting Odds: Lightning (-132) / Rangers (+109)

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning?

Tampa Bay had a six-game winning streak snapped and perhaps was rusty after not playing since May 23 when the Lightning finished a sweep of Florida. Andrei Vasilevskiy surrendered six goals on 34 shots in the loss. Vasilevskiy only gave up just three goals on 154 shots during Tampa Bay’s second-round series against Florida. Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat scored for the Lightning in the loss.

The Lightning allowed six goals in one game after allowing seven combined during a six-game winning streak going back to Game 6 against the Maple Leafs.

“It was different types of goals,” defenseman Victor Hedman said. “Some were in the zone; some were off the rush. It’s just execution in our game plan. It’s not just with the puck, it’s without the puck, too, being in the right spots. A couple of breakdowns there and (the Rangers) were able to execute and were able to find the back of the net.”

Tampa Bay is 18-0 following a loss in the postseason dating to 2020. No other team in league history has won more than 10 playoff games in a row following a loss.

Why Bet on the New York Rangers?

Remember: The Rangers were 3-0 against Tampa Bay in the regular season so perhaps New York winning Game 1 of the East Finals at home wasn’t a huge surprise, although the 6-2 rout was. Rangers star Chris Kreider opened the scoring on the first shot of the series just 1:11 into the contest. He is tied for second in the 2022 playoffs with nine goals. Kreider has 12 points in 15 matches this postseason.

Filip Chytil scored a pair of goals – both in the second period to help the Rangers pull away. His first goal of the match, which came at the 10:09 mark, held up as the game winner. Chytil has netted five of his seven goals this postseason during a three-game goal spree. The 22-year-old forward had eight goals in 67 appearances during the regular season.

During the regular season, Chytil played just 28:13 together with Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere. Ahead of the playoff opener against the Penguins, Coach Gerard Gallant put them together and unlocked something in all three. Something that has helped the Rangers move to within three victories from their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final since 2014.

Lafreniere had two assists in Game 1 — the secondary helper on both Chytil goals. The former No. 1 overall pick has two goals and nine points in 15 games this postseason, including four assists during a three-game point streak. Kakko added an assist and was plus-2.

Defenseman Adam Fox picked up two assists. He assisted on Frank Vatrano’s goal in the second period and Mika Zibanejad’s power-play tally in the third. Fox has points in six straight games with two goals and eight assists in that span. Overall, Fox has five goals and 20 assists through 15 postseason games with a plus-four rating.

The Rangers scored two goals off odd-man rushes and three others after the Lightning turned the puck over in the defensive zone, allowing the Rangers to regain possession and eventually score.

Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 of 39 shots. The Vezina finalist has won five of his last six starts and now sports a .929 save percentage in the playoffs. It is the first series lead the Rangers have had in these Stanley Cup Playoffs; they won each of the first two rounds in seven games.

“I think when you compete hard defensively and you get opportunities like we did tonight, some 2-on-1s and some power-play goals, that’s the recipe for us to win hockey games,” Gallant said. “We had great goaltending, solid chances and we buried our chances.”

Lightning vs. Rangers Betting Trends

Tampa Bay are 6-1 SU in the last 7 games.
Tampa Bay are 1-5 SU in the last 6 games against NY Rangers.
The total went under in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games.
Rangers are 5-2 in the last 7 Wednesday games.
Rangers are 9-4 in last 13 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
TThe total went under in 5 of NY Rangers’ last 7 games.

Lightning vs. Rangers Expert Betting Predictions

Lightning 3, Rangers 2.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.