Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Rangers Prediction, 1/2/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Rangers

Date: Sunday, January 2, 2022

Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

TV: MSG+

The New York Rangers (19-8-4) welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning (21-7-4) at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were on the losing side of the ice with a 9-3 defeat to the Panthers their last time on the ice. The Lightning had an average offensive outing in the defeat. For the game, they were able to notch a goal on 3 of the 42 shots they tried. Furthermore, they had 4 attempts on the power play and were able to score 1 goal. Tampa Bay tallied 24 mins in the box for this matchup.

In relation to their scoring capabilities, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accounted for 104 goals (7th in the National Hockey League) over the course of the season and have conceded 91. For the current campaign, they have 46 points and their points percentage is sitting at .719. Tampa Bay has 99 power play chances and they have scored 18 goals during those chances, garnering them a percentage of 18.18%. When at even strength, the Lightning have allowed 72 goals while notching 86 themselves. Tampa Bay has tried 947 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.0%. The Lightning have had 976 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .907. Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have recorded 93 power play opportunities (10th in pro hockey) and have scored 19 goals in those chances.

The player in the crease for this game is Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has taken the ice for 326 matchups over the course of his pro hockey career. He has accumulated an overall mark of 207-87-22 and he started in 316 games. The opposition has scored 788 goals against Vasilevskiy in his professional hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.48. Vasilevskiy has seen 9,894 shot attempts against him and he has 9,106 total saves. His save percentage sits at .920 during his 19,087 minutes in the crease. During his career on the ice, Vasilevskiy has 182 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .576.

When they were on the ice last, New York squared up with the Panthers in a game where the Rangers took a loss by a score of 4-3. They had 2 opportunities on the power play in this matchup but weren't able to put one in the back of the net. The Rangers notched 3 goals out of the 33 shots on goal they pursued.

So far this season, the New York Rangers have earned a total of 88 goals, 42 points, in addition to a points percentage of .677. They have allowed 80 goals to be scored by way of 66 goals at even strength and 14 goals while they were shorthanded. The Rangers have earned 66 goals at even strength and 22 goals (9th in the NHL) while on the power play. They have a total of 88 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 25.00%. New York has tried 895 shots (26th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 9.83%, while allowing their opponents 984 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 84.62% on their oppositions 91 power play tries, and their save percentage sits at 91.9%.

Across the rink you are going to see Igor Shesterkin protecting the goal. He has gathered 1,849 stops out of 2,000 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .925. Shesterkin has a lifetime record of 39-20-5 and has played in 66 games. He has started in 61 games and has accumulated 3,672 mins. Shesterkin's quality start percentage sits at 70.5% and he has qualified for 43 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. Teams are averaging 2.47 goals per contest and he has yielded 151 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game ATS?

Tony's Pick: Take New York

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