The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing! With just the one game on the agenda today we have had plenty of time to research the fixture in depth and bring you the absolute best predictions. Have a read below for all our NHL picks.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ New York Islanders (Semi Final – Game 6) – 8.00 PM EDT
The Islanders need to rally in front of the fans, as they look to put Monday’s huge 8-0 defeat behind them and take the series to game 7 in front of their vocal fanbase.
Given the tight scorelines we have grown accustomed to throughout this series it is safe to say nobody expected to see a blowout of such proportions on Monday. The Lightning were simply clinical, both going forward and on defense, handing the Islanders their first shutout defeat of the season, and claiming the accolade of biggest scoreline of the postseason.
With 8 goals scored it was unsurprising to see the names of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Alex Kilorn amongst the scoreboard, with all 3 bagging triple points in the victory. Brayden Point was also amongst the points, picking up his 8th consecutive goal on top of an assist.
Quite the winfographic today 🤩#TBLvsNYI | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/G1JDRg85n9
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 22, 2021
Nothing went right for the Islanders, they gave away plenty of penalties and were punished for them, they were poor going forward, attempting just 21 shots while receiving double that at the other end, and the goaltending wasn’t up to par, with both Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov having a stinker.
A defeat is a defeat, and teams can bounce back from a defeat of this calibre in one of two ways, either using it as motivation or letting it eat them up and crumbling. Barry Trotz’s men aren’t the type to dwell, and playing back in front of the fans there is no way they let themselves be dismantled again.
However, that does not mean we think they will win this one, the Lightning are coming in off the back of the biggest playoff win this season, with all their main players continuing to hit their strides, including Brayden Point who is 2 goals away from tying an all time NHL record. We expect a tighter game than Monday’s affair, but if the Lightning can take the game by the horns early they should be taking the series down.
NHL Pick – Tampa Bay Lightning (-152)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
