Thu 26/05/2016 - 08:45 EDT

NHL Playoff Game Pick

NHL Playoff Game Pick

Last year, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final on home ice to the New York Rangers, but then went to Madison Square Garden and won Game 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup final. Will history repeat itself?

Pens Vs Lightning Game 7 Matchup Comparison

By Bob Duff

Tampa Bay Lightining (+180) at Pittburgh Penguins (-189)

sidFollowing a 5-2 loss at Amalie Arena in Game 6 with a chance to wrap up the series at their fingertips, you might think the Tampa Bay Lightning are done like dinner heading to Consol Engery Center to try and win Game 7 on the road. But just last year, the Lightning were drilled 7-3 at home by the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final, only to record a 2-0 shutout win over the Rangers in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.

In the only previous playoff series between these two teams, the Lightning rallied from a 3-1 series deficit in the opening round of the 2011 playoffs and posted a 1-0 victory at Pittsburgh in Game 7. Game 7 hasn't been kind to the Penguins in recent springs. They are 7-7 all-time in the scenario and last won a Game 7 at Detroit to capture the 2009 Stanley Cup final. At Pittsburgh, the Penguins are 2-7 all-time, and have lost three straight Game 7s on home ice. The Penguins' last home-ice win in Game 7 came against Washington in 1995.

A worrisome development for the Lightning has to be the strong play of Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby. He notched a goal and an assist in Game 6 and has potted the winner in all three Pittsburgh victories in the series. Crosby has collected five points in six games and shows 4-8-12 numbers in 14 career games when the Penguins have faced elimination.

The Lightning will again go without captain Steven Stamkos (blood clot), who has missed the entire series and goalie Ben Bishop (lower body injury), who was hurt in the first period of Game 1. That means it's Andrei Vasilevskiy, who's faced at least 33 shots in every game so far, in net for Tampa Bay. Rookie Matt Murray, who returned to action in Game 6 after being replaced by Marc-Andre Fleury for Game 5, gets the nod for the Penguins.

The Tampa Bay forward unit of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn has combined for 23 goals and 49 points in the playoffs. Phil Kessel has scored nine goals for the Penguins, the most tallies by a Pittsburgh player in postseason play in seven years.

Over the course of the six games, the Penguins have proven to be the better team, dominating puck possession stats and outshooting the Lightning in every game.

Pick: The Penguins (-189)

 

 

Category : News

More articles...
News - 12/06/25
Florida is Now the Overwhelming Favorite to Win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals 

What: 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Who: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers When: Game 4 is Thursday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET Where: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida How to watch: TNT and Max It's funny how things can change in the span of a week or so. Before the final series of […]

News - 04/06/25
Belmont Stakes 2025: Baeza is in line for classic glory 

The third and final leg of the Triple Crown happens Saturday, June 7: the Belmont Stakes. Like last year, it will be a little different than the traditional Belmont: it will be run at 1 ΒΌ miles at Saratoga Race Course, since Belmont Park is still under construction. The race offers a $2 million purse, […]

News - 02/06/25
Oklahoma City is a Big Favorite to Win the 2025 NBA Finals Over Indiana 

What: 2025 NBA Finals Who: Oklahoma City vs. Indiana Pacers When: Game 1 is set for June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma How to watch: ABC After a thrilling postseason leading up to this stage, only two teams are left in the hunt to take home the Larry […]

News - 02/06/25
Best UFC 316 Bets: Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley Picks 

What: UFC 316 Who: Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley in the main event When: Saturday, June 7 at 9 p.m. ET Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey How to watch: ESPN+ There's a title on the line at UFC 316 and there's a main event that people can't wait for. That's right, it's that […]