Roster Rundown
New York Rangers head into this match with some notable firepower. Artemi Panarin, with his deft hands and sharp shooting, leads the team with 37 goals and 64 assists this season. Mika Zibanejad, a key playmaker, has been instrumental with 28 goals and 48 assists, orchestrating the offense. Adam Fox, the blueliner with a knack for both defense and offense, has contributed 12 goals and 50 assists, proving his versatility on the ice. Vincent Trocheck, known for his face-off prowess, has added 24 goals and 35 assists. The Rangers will feel the absence of Braden Schneider, their dependable defenseman, and Alexis Lafreniere, whose speed has been missed.
Tampa Bay Lightning, on the other hand, relies heavily on their offensive juggernaut Nikita Kucherov, who’s racked up an impressive 42 goals and 72 assists. Brayden Point, with his speed and agility, complements Kucherov with 35 goals and 40 assists. Victor Hedman, the towering defenseman, remains a cornerstone on defense with 10 goals and 45 assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy, the stalwart goalie, has been a rock with a .920 save percentage. Yet, they’ll be without Anthony Cirelli, a valuable two-way forward, and Erik Cernak, their defensive anchor.
Head-to-Head
New York Rangers and
Tampa Bay Lightning have quite the history, meeting 52 times since 2011.
Tampa Bay Lightning leads the series with 28 wins to Rangers' 24. Most recently, Tampa Bay prevailed 5-1 against the Rangers.
Recent Form
New York Rangers' recent outings have been a mixed bag. They conquered Florida Panthers 5-3 and obliterated New York Islanders 9-2 but stumbled against Carolina Hurricanes 7-3, Philadelphia Flyers 8-5, and
Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1.
Tampa Bay Lightning have had their ups and downs as well. They secured a dominant 7-4 victory over Buffalo Sabres and repeated their success against
New York Rangers 5-1. However, they fell short against Detroit Red Wings 4-3, Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3, and another close contest with Buffalo Sabres, losing 3-2.
Wrap-Up
The Rangers, with a potent mix of offensive talent and defensive stalwarts, have shown flashes of brilliance, but inconsistency remains their Achilles' heel.
Tampa Bay Lightning, riding on their offensive stars and solid goaltending, have had a slight edge in recent meetings, suggesting an intriguing matchup. Rangers need to tighten up defensively to contain Kucherov and Point, while Lightning aim to maintain their offensive momentum. Both teams have had their share of struggles, and it'll come down to who capitalizes on their chances more effectively. The absence of key players like Schneider and Cirelli could tip the scales, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the contest.
Summary
Considering recent performances and head-to-head history,
Tampa Bay Lightning seem poised to continue their dominance over
New York Rangers. With Kucherov and Point in explosive form and Vasilevskiy’s reliable presence in the net, they’ve got the upper hand. Rangers, while talented, have to address their defensive lapses to have a fighting chance. This clash of titans promises to be a riveting encounter, with Lightning holding a slight edge.
Match Odds New York Rangers – Tampa Bay Lightning
Leon's odds are 2.77 on New York Rangers triumphing at own stadium.
At this moment our odds are equal to 2.16 on Tampa Bay Lightning visiting team's winning.
Draw odds are 4.43.
