New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 3/14/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (-107) Lightning (-114)

Amalie Arena is the site where the Tampa Bay Lightning (34-25-6) will try to defeat the New York Rangers (43-18-4) on Thursday. The moneyline on this matchup has the Rangers at -107 and the Lightning are at -114. The total has been set at 7.

The New York Rangers came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 1-0 victory over the Hurricanes in their previous game. The Rangers didn't have their best offensive outing in the victory. For the matchup, they finished 1 of the 24 shots they launched. Additionally, they had 2 power play tries but weren't able to make the most of them. New York amassed 2 penalty minutes for this contest.

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New York Rangers opponents have recorded 185 power play opportunities (26th in the league) and have scored 30 goals in those attempts. The Rangers thus far have had 1,912 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .911. New York has taken 2,012 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.6%. While at even strength, the Rangers have surrendered 140 goals while getting 161 themselves. New York is sitting with 207 power play chances and they have scored 52 goals out of those tries, garnering them a percentage of 25.12%. For the current season, they have 90 points and their points percentage sits at .692. In relation to their scoring, the New York Rangers have accounted for 213 goals (11th in the National Hockey League) this year and have allowed 170.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Igor Shesterkin. The opposition has been able to score 470 goals versus Shesterkin in his professional career and his goals against average per contest is 2.41. Shesterkin has played in 201 games over the course of his professional hockey career. He has a save percentage of .922 in his 11,700 minutes guarding the cage. He has earned an overall record of 127-55-17 and he has gotten the start in 196 games. During his career on the ice, Shesterkin has 128 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .653. Shesterkin has had 6,012 shots against him and has recorded 5,542 total saves.

Their last time out, Tampa Bay faced the Flyers in a game where the Lightning took home the victory by a final of 7-0. They had 4 power play chances in this game and scored 3 out of those opportunities. The Lightning tallied 7 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they pursued.

The Lightning have 164 goals at even strength and 57 goals (3rd in hockey) while on the power play. Tampa Bay has tried 1,905 shots (22nd in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 11.60%, while allowing the opposition 1,912 shots. On the season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have tallied 221 goals, 74 points, in addition to a points percentage of .569. They have permitted 219 goals to be scored by way of 184 goals at even strength and 35 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 195 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 29.23%. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 80.77% on their oppositions 182 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 88.5%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Andrei Vasilevskiy defending the goal. He has a tally of 12,837 saves out of 14,001 shots tried, which gives him a percentage of .917. Vasilevskiy has earned a career mark of 285-139-29 and has played in 464 contests. He was named a starter in 454 games and his ice time sits at 27,280 mins. Vasilevskiy's percentage of quality starts comes out to 56.2% and he has accumulated 255 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. Opponents are averaging 2.56 goals per game and he has relinquished 1,164 goals altogether.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-114)

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