New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 12/28/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: WXPX-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (+120) Lightning (-144)

The New York Rangers (16-17-1) are headed to Amalie Arena on Saturday where they will try to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning (19-11-2). The line on this contest has the Rangers at +120 and the Lightning are priced at -144. The over/under is set at 6.

The New York Rangers will look for better times on the ice after their 5-0 loss against the Devils their last time out. The Rangers had an offensive game that was below their expectations in this defeat. For the matchup, they went scoreless on the 12 shots they attempted. Furthermore, they had 4 power play opportunities but weren't able to score. New York recorded 24 penalty minutes in this contest.

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New York Rangers opponents have earned 109 power play opportunities (8th in pro hockey) and have a total of 16 goals in those attempts. The Rangers so far have had 1,083 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .906. New York has taken 1,002 shots and holds a shot percentage of 9.6%. At even strength, the Rangers let the opposition score 86 goals while earning 79 when they are on offense. New York has compiled 91 power play opportunities and they have scored 17 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 18.68%. For the current campaign, they have 33 points and their points percentage comes in at .485. In regard to their goal scoring prowess, the New York Rangers have racked up 96 goals (24th in pro hockey) on the year and have surrendered 102.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has participated in 238 matchups over the course of his NHL career. He has accumulated a mark of 146-72-18 and he started in 233 games. Opponents have racked up 572 goals against Shesterkin in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 2.75. Shesterkin has had 7,147 shot attempts against him and has recorded 6,575 saves. His save percentage sits at .920 for his 12,486 minutes in the crease. Over the course of his time in hockey, Shesterkin has accrued 151 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .648.

Their last time out, Tampa Bay went up against the Panthers in a game where the Lightning got the victory by a final score of 4-0. The Lightning earned 4 goals out of the 29 shots on goal they took. They had 3 power play chances in this contest and notched 1 out of those chances.

During this campaign, the Tampa Bay Lightning are sitting with 126 goals, 40 points, in addition to a points percentage of .625. They have granted a total of 89 goals to be scored by way of 71 goals at even strength and 18 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Lightning have scored 100 goals at even strength and 26 goals (7th in the league) while on the power play. They have a total of 96 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 27.08%. Tampa Bay has tried 903 shots (28th in professional hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 13.95%, while allowing their opponents 898 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 80.22% on their opponents 91 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 90.1%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Andrei Vasilevskiy in the crease. His opponents are averaging 2.69 goals/game and he has allowed 1,260 goals altogether. Vasilevskiy's percentage of quality starts sits at 56.8% and he has qualified for 280 quality starts in his pro career. He has made the start in 493 contests and has been on the ice for 28,111 mins. Vasilevskiy has compiled a career mark of 308-153-31 and has been in net for 503 games. He is sitting with 13,808 saves out of the 15,068 shots tried, which gives him a percentage of .916.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New York (+120)

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