Tue 24/05/2016 - 08:19 EDT

NHL Playoff Game Prediction

NHL Playoff Game Prediction

With a win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final, the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning can achieve what’s only been done once in three decades – return to the Stanley Cup final the year after being the losing Cup finalist.

Pens Vs Lightning Game 6 Analysis

By Bob Duff

Pittsburgh Penguins (-140) at Tampa Bay Lightning (+120)

phil

Rallying for a 4-3 overtime win in Game 5 at Pittsburgh, the Lightning are poised to win the Eastern Conference title for the second straight spring and return to the Stanley Cup final for the second successive year, something only one losing finalist has accomplished since the 1984-85 season.

That team was the Penguins, who lost a six-game Cup final series to the Detroit Red Wings in 2007-08 but returned in 2008-09 to defeat the Red Wings in seven games to win the Stanley Cup, and the Penguins are utilizing that 2009 Cup win as motivation. They were also down 3-2 in that series but won Games 6 and 7 to take it all.

The Lightning are 2-0 in closeout games this spring. Center Tyler Johnson, who scored Tampa Bay's OT winner in Game 5, has goals in each of the last three games, a career playoff high. In the last two playoff years, Tampa Bay is 12-1 when Johnson scores a goal. Linemate Nikita Kucherov, who tied Game 5 in the late stages of the third period, posted the third three-point game of his NHL playoff career and leads all postseason scorers with 11 goals. He joined Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin as the only players in NHL history to record double-digit goal outputs in successive Stanley Cup seasons prior to their 23rd birthday.

Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury became the 18th goaltender in history to appear in 100 Stanley Cup games but whether gets to 101 in Game 6 is debatable. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was waiting until game day to determine his starting netminder between Fleury and Matt Murray. Andrei Vasillevskiy will again get the nod over the ailing Ben Bishop (lower body injury) for the Lightning.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, asked to play more minutes due to the fractured ankle suffered by Trevor Daley in Game 4, skated 27:51 in Game 5 and was minus-four. Penguins forward Chris Kunitz has scored in three straight games. Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin scored his first career Stanley Cup goal in Game 5 in what his 21st playoff game. Dumoulin has one goal in 93 NHL regular-season games, also scored against the Lightning on Dec. 15, 2014. Malkin has 20-25-45 numbers in 36 regular-season and playoff games against the Lightning.

Pick: The Lightning (+120)

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 […]