At the beginning of the Eastern Conference Final was the perception of Lightning Superiority. And there was plenty of good reason for those NHL betting expectations. Tampa Bay is the proven team as 2-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Additionally, the Rangers are the new kid on the postseason block. New York cleaned out its coaching and management staff one year ago. Cause to the slow progress of the Ranger rebuild. General manager Chris Drury and head coach Gerard Gallant inherited a talented core that needed seasoning. Nobody saw a trip to the conference final in the cards.
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning Game 4
| Date and Time: | Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 8 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers | +1½ (-185) | 5½ (+105) | +150 |  |
| Lightning | -1½ (+160) | 5½ (-125) | -170 | |
| ||||
SBG Odds Overview – Public Perception Changes
Now, the same betting public that raved about the Lightning’s championship experience is touting New York. Gamblers have seen the Lightning look slow against the speedy and younger Rangers. Also, the absence of Tampa Bay center Braydon Point is catching up to the Bolts. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has long been touted as the best in the game. And the ultimate sportsbook asset. However, Ranger goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been the better netminder in this series.
Where Did These Guys Come From?
Last year general manager Jeff Gorton and head coach David Quinn were fired for missing the playoffs. Most observers saw that the Rangers were making progress. But chairman James Dolan was out of patience. When Gorton and team president John Davidson refused to follow Dolan’s directives for a more aggressive approach, they were canned. Gorton and Davidson did a good job of building the foundation. And Quinn was a solid coach for a young roster. Yet Dolan was right. It was time to get aggressive. New general manager Chris Drury added more grit and sandpaper.
Vegas Rolls Snake Eyes While Rangers are Resurgent
Two of the key moves by Drury came from the Vegas Golden Knights. Head coach Gerard Gallant led Vegas to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Specifically, the Golden Knights were a first-year expansion team. Gallant’s achievement was historic in major league sports history. Yet he was fired two years later during a Golden Knights’ slump. Gallant is a player’s coach in the best sort of way. He allows his players a lot of freedom. Yet he holds them accountable and is demanding.
Also coming from the Golden Knights is right-wing Ryan Reaves. Reaves was not brought to New York to score goals. Rather, he was acquired to bring a physical presence. Last season, too many opponents were pushing the Rangers around. New York had nobody that opponents feared. Reaves changed that. He may not score or have a lot of skill, but nobody takes liberty against the Rangers’ skilled players anymore.
Rangers at Lightning SBG Free Picks
In this situation, the Lightning has learned they are up against a legitimate NHL betting contender. Tampa Bay will try to slow the game down on home ice. However, the Rangers’ speed has proven too much for the Bolts. Most important of all, Igor Shesterkin has been the dominant goaltender of this series.
Rangers at Lightning SBG Best Bet: New York Rangers.