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Top NHL Picks and Predictions Today (Best Bets for Rangers vs. Lightning Game 4)

By Iain MacMillan

The Rangers and Lightning will face-off in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
The Rangers and Lightning will face-off in Game 4 on Tuesday night. / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
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The Tampa Bay Lightning had their backs up against the wall both in the series, and in Game 3 when they were down 2-0. They stormed back to score three unanswered goals to win the game, and now they have a chance to even the series at 2-2 at home tonight.

With the Avalanche completing the sweep on Monday night, the winner of this series will face Colorado in the Stanley Cup Final.

Let's dive into my best bet for tonight's Game 4, with odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook. I also have a couple of prop bets that I recommend sprinkling on.

Best Bets for Rangers vs. Lightning Game 4

  • Lightning -177
  • Igor Shesterkin OVER 33.5 Saves (-125)
  • Nikita Kucherov OVER 3.5 Shots (+104)

Lightning -177

I sound like a broken record, but it's the same old story with the Rangers. They're continuously getting out-played in every single game, but they're winning, or at least keeping it close, solely due to the play of goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

For example, when looking at expected goals per 60 minutes, the Lightning are ahead of the Rangers by a tally of 4.11-3.01. Yet, the actual goals per 60 minutes is 3.67-2.33 in favor of New York.

The Lightning are also averaging 16.67 high-danger scoring chances per game, compared to the Rangers at just 12.33. In Game 3, the Lightning outshot the Rangers 52-30, and still almost lost the game. It's truly mind-blowing stuff.

If you're betting on the Rangers, you're betting on Shesterkin to steal the show.

I can't bring myself to relying on one specific player to be the best athlete on the ice every single night, so I'll continue to back the Lightning with my money.

Igor Shesterkin OVER 33.5 Saves (-125)

Taking the OVER on Igor Shesterkin's save total has been a money maker for me these NHL Playoffs. He's surpassed this total in four of his last five games, including racking up an eye-popping 49 saves in Game 3 against the Lightning.

With Tampa Bay totaling 52 shots on goal in their previous home game against the Rangers, I expect another big offensive output tonight. We have next to no worries about Shesterkin getting pulled, so unless the Lightning off an unusually bad offensive game, this bet should be a good one.

Nikita Kucherov OVER 3.5 Shots (+104)

Nikita Kucherov is averaging 3.64 shots per game this postseason, so being able to bet on OVER 3.5 at +104 odds is already a good value bet. Not only that, but Kucherov has games of five shots and seven shots already this series. He also has five points in his last two games.

If the Lightning want to keep their dreams of a three-peat alive, they need to rely on their top goal-scorer. Expect Kucherov to rack up some more shots tonight.

You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.

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