The New York Rangers are out of runway.
Four points behind the Montreal Canadiens with six games to play, the Blueshirts need to pick up a minimum of 10 out of a possible 12 points to have a realistic chance to make the playoffs.
You’d think a veteran-laden team in this situation would bear down and give it everything its got, but that just hasn’t been the case for the Blueshirts down the stretch.
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The Rangers are a +130 home underdog against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lightning vs. Rangers betting preview
The Lightning have become a trendy pick to win the Stanley Cup for good reason.
Not only is Tampa on pace for 101 points, but the Bolts boast a plus-70 goal difference, which is good enough for second-best mark in the NHL

Not too shabby for a team that was supposed to be beyond its Stanley Cup window.
The Bolts are known as an offensive juggernaut thanks to the presence of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point, but it’s their defensive work that really stands out.
Only five teams have given up fewer goals at 5-on-5 than the Lightning, who are getting elite goaltending from Andrei Vasilevskiy this season.
Lightning vs. Rangers pick
Everything seems to be trending in the wrong direction for the Rangers, outside of the play of Igor Shesterkin.
The Blueshirts are mired in a long slump on the power play, they’re not generating any offense at 5-on-5, and they’re not getting consistent efforts from their best players.
Betting on the NHL?
This matchup features two elite goaltenders, one terrific defense and a sputtering offense.
As long as the Rangers can avoid the killer defensive mistakes, this contest has all the right ingredients for a play on the under.
The Pick: Under 5.5 (-105)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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