Game Twenty-Five: Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Location: Madison Square Garden, The City That Never Sleeps

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, MSG, SN1, NHL Network, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -105

Know the Opponents: Blue Shirt Banter

Following their entertaining win against the Detroit Red Wings, the Tampa Bay Lightning are right back in action for a matinee performance at the World’s Most Famous Arena as they take on the New York Rangers. Both teams played on Friday (and started their top goaltenders), with the Rangers also tasting victory in the form of a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins.

The Lightning have picked up points in two of the four back-to-back close-out games this season with a 1-2-1 record. New York, well, they’ve scored one goal in their three such contests. They’ve been shut out by the Capitals and the Islanders while losing 2-1 to the Red Wings.

All of their defeats came on home ice, which has not been kind to the Rangers this season. They are 2-7-1 at Madison Square Arena and are producing a league-worst 1.6 goals per game. They’ve struggled to generate chances, ranking in the bottom third in scoring chances and high-danger chances, and when they have put the shots on net, they’re not going in as they have a league-low 6.18% shooting percentage on home ice.

On the other side of the coin, for the first time in a few seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning are rolling on the road. Yesterday’s win ran their record to 7-2-2, powered by an offense that is putting up 3.64 GF/GP, which is second in the league behind Dallas. They’ve been opportunistic on their offense as they rank 23rd in high-danger chances with 10.83/60, but are shooting 27.63% on those chances.

It could be a somewhat sloppy game today with both teams playing with less than 24 hours rest and having to travel. Over their run of success, the Lightning have found ways to win these types of games, but they will be tested by a Rangers team looking to outplay their early season struggles.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliNikita KucherovJake GuentzelDominic JamesGage GoncalvesZemgus GirgensonsYanni GourdePontus HolmbergCurtis DouglasNick PaulOliver Bjorkstrand

Defense:

J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshCharle-Edouard D’AstousEmil LillebergDeclan CarlileSteven Santini

Goaltenders:

Jonas JohanssonAndrei Vasilevskiy

New York Rangers

Forwards:

Artemi PanarinVincent TrocheckJ.T. MillerWill CuylleMika ZibanejadAlexis LafreniereBrett BerardNoah LabaJonny BrodzinskiAdam EdstromSam CarrickTaylor Raddysh

Defense:

Vladislav GavrikovAdam FoxCarson SoucyBraden SchneiderUrho VaakanainenMatthew Robertson

Goaltenders:

Dylan GarandIgor Shesterkin