Lightning vs. Devils: Game 5 prediction

On Saturday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Lightning will try to eliminate the New Jersey Devils in Game 5. Can they make it happen? Or do the Devils have a comeback in mind?

I’ll be honest, the last time I predicted a Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils contest (Game 3), it didn’t fare so well. In short, the prediction was that newly inserted Devils goaltender Cory Schneider would be pummeled. The Lightning would take a 3-0 series lead and Stamkos would finally have a breakout game for Tampa Bay. While Stamkos did have two points, including a goal, the rest of those predictions? Not so good.

In fact, Schneider was fantastic. He stopped 34 of 36 in place of Keith Kinkaid and the Devils popped three behind Andrei Vasilevskiy before scoring a couple of empty netters. But hey, the Devils are going to need to show more, right? Though Game 3 was their best effort so far, they couldn’t match that five-goal output in Game 4.

Most of all, they need to focus on stopping Nikita Kucherov. He has nine points to date, including four goals. That includes two and an assist in the Lightning’s 3-1 win on Wednesday that gave them a 3-1 series lead. He could be on the cusp of knocking off New jersey all by himself.

This one is at home for the Lightning, and they’ve been crushing it in their arena all season. Can the Devils finally take one on the road? Then again, since being inserted in net, Cory Schneider has been awesome for both of his starts. He’s stopped 78 of 82 and given his club a chance to stay in it.

Our three-eyed raven has been blind so far, but let’s get it on.

Predictions:

1: Kucherov will continue his torrid play. This isn’t so much a hot take as it is using eyeballs and brains. He was fire in the regular season and has been fire in the playoffs. It hasn’t been all him, as the depth has really stepped up, but he’s put them on his back when need be. Expect at least a goal and an assist from Nikita Scores-a-lot.

2: Cory Schneider has another great performance for the Devils. As mentioned, Schneider has given this club a lift. They couldn’t find their offense in Game 4, but we have a feeling New Jersey will put up a few ala Game 3 to give him some help. The last prediction offered Cory as a sacrifice to the hockey gods, so we’ll give him the benefit this time around. Please don’t make us regret it.

3: New Jersey will stun Tampa Bay on the road and we will see Seinfeld references for at least another game, especially when it sends the series back to its hometown. Really, we love them anyway so keep them coming.

Game: Devils 4, Lightning 2

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