New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 12/30/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Saturday, December 30, 2023

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (+107) Lightning (-130)

Amalie Arena is the site where the Tampa Bay Lightning (17-14-5) will try to beat the New York Rangers (24-8-1) on Saturday. The odds on this game have New York at +107 and Tampa Bay is coming in at -130. The over/under is set at 7.

The New York Rangers will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 5-1 win against the Capitals in their previous contest . New York earned 4 penalty minutes in this matchup. The Rangers played really well in the victory. Moreover, they had 3 chances on the power play and scored 1 goal. For the outing, they were able to notch a goal on 5 of the 31 shots they looked to score on.

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In terms of scoring goals, the New York Rangers have earned 112 goals (11th in the National Hockey League) for the year and have allowed 89. For the current campaign, they sit with 49 points and their points percentage is .742. New York has accounted for 106 power play chances and they have notched 33 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 31.13%. While at even strength, the Rangers have allowed the opponent to score 75 goals while getting 79 themselves. New York has taken 1,020 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.0%. The Rangers so far have had 978 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .909. New York Rangers opponents have earned 100 power play opportunities (27th in professional hockey) and have tallied 14 goals in those chances.

The man in net for this game is Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has participated in 179 contests over the course of his hockey career. He has earned a win-loss mark of 113-49-15 and he was named the starter in 174 games. Opponents have notched 419 goals against Shesterkin in his NHL career and his goals against average is 2.42. Shesterkin has had 5,372 shots against him and has recorded 4,953 saves. He has a save percentage of .922 for his 10,387 mins on the ice. Over the course of his time in hockey, Shesterkin has tallied 115 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .661.

In their last contest, Tampa Bay faced off against the Panthers in an outing where the Lightning went home in defeat by a score of 3-2. The Lightning notched 2 goals of the 29 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 power play chances in this game but weren't able to score a goal.

The Lightning have earned 85 goals at even strength and 34 goals (1st in pro hockey) while having a power play advantage. Tampa Bay has put up 1,092 shots (8th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 10.90%, while allowing the opposition 1,121 shots. On the campaign, the Tampa Bay Lightning are sitting with 119 goals, 39 points, and a points percentage of .542. They have permitted 123 goals to be scored by of a combination of 102 goals at even strength and 21 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have recorded 115 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 29.57%. They have a penalty kill rate of 80.19% on their opponents 106 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 89.0%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Andrei Vasilevskiy defending the net. He has recorded 12,235 saves out of 13,324 shots taken, giving him a save % of .918. Vasilevskiy has accumulated a career mark of 271-129-28 and has been in goal for 439 games. He got the starting nod in 429 games and has been on the ice for 25,807 minutes. Vasilevskiy's percentage of quality starts comes out to 57.1% and he has qualified for 245 quality starts in his NHL career. His opponents are averaging 2.53 goals per game and he has relinquished 1,089 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take New York (+107)

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