NHL Bets Odds, Picks & Predictions for Tuesday: Lightning vs. Rangers (10/11)

The National Hockey League returns tonight as we gear up for a couple of exciting matchups. Action gets underway in the Big Apple with a repeat of last year's Eastern Conference Final as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the New York Rangers. Then we head out west to wrap up the opening day slate with a Pacific Division clash between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings.

Good luck to everyone, and let's have a profitable NHL season. Here’s my top pick for tonight’s game: Lightning vs. Rangers.

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

Check out our consensus odds for 2022-23 Stanley Cup Champion >>

NHL Bets Odds, Picks & Predictions for Tuesday: Lightning vs. Rangers

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers 

The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 series lead against the Lightning in last year's ECF, but the Bolts bounced back and rattled off four straight wins to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, where they eventually lost to the Avalanche in six games. The ECF was a thrilling series, and we should expect the energy to carry over as the Blue Shirts try to get revenge on opening night. The puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden. 

Each of these teams was able to keep a vast majority of their key players over the offseason. Aside from the Lightning losing Ondrej Palat and Ryan McDonagh, the roster construction looks pretty similar. The Rangers parted ways with Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano while adding Vincent Trocheck in Strome's place. However, as we saw in last year's postseason series between Tampa Bay and New York, these teams are built from the backend forward. The Bolts return Andrei Vasilevskiy to the net, while the Rangers come back with Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin. Each of these men dominated throughout the playoffs and played a massive part in their respective teams making deep runs. 

As for this individual game, I'm going to roll with the Rangers as a slight favorite at home. In 29 home starts last season, Shesterkin posted a 1.85 GAA and .940 SV% while going 21-6-3 over 30 total games played. I don't know if he'll have as insane of a year as the '21-'22 campaign, but look for him to be another key contributor to New York's point total this season. Up front, I expect this young core of Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko, Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck to be a force in the East this season. Another year of experience makes this team a real threat, and I see them running the Metropolitan Division. I think they will get it done tonight in front of a home crowd that's going to be roaring.

Bet: New York Rangers Moneyline (-115 via Caesars)

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