It is Game 7 of this series between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday with the winner advancing to the Stanley Cup finals. New York forced Game 7 with a 3-2 victory in overtime on Wednesday.
Here you can find the best picks, news, and stats for the NHL playoff semifinal battle at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay is the favorite at -167. This according to PointsBet Sportsbook, which puts New York at +145 as the underdog.
The Islanders will be without Johnny Boychuck and Anders Lee. Anders Nilsson and Marian Gaborik are still out for Tampa Bay. Erik Cernak and Nikita Kucherov are both listed as questionable for this contest.
Islanders Rally to Force Game 7
Tampa Bay was just 28 minutes from advancing to the finals, but the Islanders scored three unanswered goals, including the overtime game-winner to stay alive. Anthony Beauvillier scored the game-winner 1:08 into the extra session. Jordan Eberle and Scott Mayfield scored in regulation to erase the two-goal deficit. Semyon Varlamov was spectacular, stopping 22 of 24 shots.
New York is averaging 3.00 goals per game and is connecting on 10.3% of their shots, both third in the postseason. The Islanders power-play has been solid at 20.8%. Matthew Barzal leads the team with 14 points, and Josh Bailey, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Beauvillier are all tied with 13 points.
The Islanders are allowing 2.89 goals per game in the penalty-killing units have struggled at 65.1%. Varlamov came up huge in Game 6. He is now 7-6 with a 2.68 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
Lightning Need to Regroup After Devastating Loss
Brayden Point gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead 16 minutes into the contest and Anthony Cirelli extended the lead at 12:36 of the second period. However, Tampa Bay collapsed down the stretch under the relentless forecheck of the Islanders and will now have to win Game 7.
Tampa Bay is averaging 3.35 goals per game and are connecting on 11.3% of their shots, both second during the postseason. They are also second on the power-play at 37.7%. Kucherov is the leading scorer in the playoffs with 22 assists and 27 points, but he is listed as questionable for this game, which would be a huge blow for Tampa Bay. Point now leads with 14 goals.
The Lightning are allowing 2.18 goals per game in the penalty killing has been outstanding at 82.7%, fourth overall. Vasilevskiy has started every game for the Lightning, going 11-6 with a 2.11 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Trends:
New York:
- 5-2 in their last seven games.
- 9-3 in their last 12 games when playing on one day’s rest.
Tampa Bay:
- None
New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Pick:
You battle for the better record to host a Game 7 during the playoffs, but that can be a lot of pressure, especially for a team coming off a devastating loss. The Islanders have proven they are just as good offensively as Tampa Bay, and the loss of Kucherov is a huge one for the Lightning. Even if he is able to go, they cannot count on him to be at full strength.
NHL Picks: Take New York at +145.
New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Total:
Game 7 is hockey is like nothing else in sports. The simplest, smallest mistake can turn a game, so both teams are extremely careful about the risks they take. That helps to keep scoring down, which is what you will see in this game. These teams have gone under in four of the last seven meetings and three of the last six meetings in Tampa Bay.
Pick: Go under 5.0 at +110
