The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers are set to face off in their final regular-season matchup at Madison Square Garden. Tampa Bay has already secured a playoff spot, while New York is looking to end their season on a positive note after missing out on postseason contention.
Game Details
- Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning (47-26-8) vs. New York Rangers (38-36-7)
- Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Broadcast: MSG, ESPN+, NHL Network (Game Preview)
Season Series & Recent Form
The Lightning have dominated the season series, winning both previous matchups, including a 5-1 victory on April 7, where Brayden Point scored twice and Tampa Bay controlled the pace of play (Game Recap).
Tampa Bay enters the game 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, averaging 4.3 goals per game while allowing just 2.2 goals per contest (Recent Form). Meanwhile, the Rangers have struggled, going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, conceding 3.5 goals per game while scoring 3.9 goals per contest.
Key Players to Watch
- Tampa Bay Lightning:
- Brayden Point – Leads the team with 42 goals and 40 assists, including two goals in their last meeting.
- Nikita Kucherov – Has 79 assists this season, ranking among the NHL’s top playmakers.
- Jake Guentzel – Has been red-hot, recording seven goals and five assists in his last 10 games.
- New York Rangers:
- Adam Fox – Leads the Rangers with 10 goals and 51 assists, providing stability on defense.
- Artemi Panarin – Has six goals and eight assists in his last 10 games, looking to spark the offense.
- Igor Shesterkin – Struggled in the last meeting, allowing five goals on 13 shots, but remains a key factor in net (Game Analysis).
Matchup Breakdown
- Tampa Bay’s Offense vs. New York’s Defense:
The Lightning rank among the NHL’s best in scoring, while the Rangers have a negative goal differential (-4) this season. - New York’s Power Play Struggles:
The Rangers have converted just 17.2% of their power plays, ranking 27th in the NHL, while Tampa Bay has been strong on the penalty kill (Team Stats). - Goaltending Battle:
- Tampa Bay: Andrei Vasilevskiy (36-20-3, 2.16 GAA, .922 SV%)
- New York: Igor Shesterkin (25-27-5, 2.86 GAA, .904 SV%)
Tampa Bay Lightning 5.5
New York Rangers – 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 16, 2025
