Where the Western Conference Final was decided a few days ago, it is not yet clear which team will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final. On Thursday night, the New York Islanders will face the Tampa Bay Lightning for the sixth game in their playoff series. Will the Isles manage to force Game 7, or will the Bolts qualify for the Stanley Cup final?
New York Islanders: survive double OT
The New York Islanders are still hoping to upset the Tampa Bay Lightning.The ice hockey team fell 3-1 behind Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals series last Sunday and have had their backs against the wall ever since. All three remaining matches had to be won to keep their Stanley Cup dream alive. A difficult task, but last Tuesday the first step was taken by the Isles.
New York avoided elimination, grinding out a 2-1 win in double overtime. Thanks to a power play goal from Ryan Pulock, the Isles gained the lead in the first period, but the Bolts scored the equalizer early in the second period when Victor Hedman found the back of the net. It was already the third goal of the defender in the series against the Isles. Overtime was needed to determine a winner and Jordan Eberle ultimately decided the game in favor of the Isles, reducing the deficit in the series to 3-2.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point, a surprise scratch
After the first round of the playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning together with the Vegas Golden Knights were seen as the biggest favorite to win the Stanley Cup. The roster of Tampa Bay is extremely well-balanced and has few weaknesses. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy won thirteen of the eighteen games he played in the postseason and posted an average of 1.88 goals-against per game.
Lightning in regulation or under 5 goals
The question of the day will be whether Brayden Point is fit enough to play Game 6 against the New York Islanders. Coach Jon Cooper has just let the press know that his key player will be a game-time decision. If Point is fit enough, I see the Lightning win in regulation, but otherwise the value will be on the under or the New York Islanders (incl. Overtime). The Bolts are 0-2 in this series without him and that says something. There is a lot at stake and Game 5 wasn't exactly a pretty game to watch. My preference when Point isn't fit enough to play, is to bet the under.
Tampa Bay in regulation @ 1.97 (Unibet, 1.25 units) If Brayden Point will play
Under 5 goals @ 2.05 (Unibet, 0.75 units) If Brayden Point is out
