NHL Semi-Final Rangers/Lightning Notes and Prediction

The New York Rangers bounced back, as they so often do, with a (5-1) series squaring win in game four at Tampa, vs the Lightning.

This is the third time the Lightning have made the NHL semi-final round, with the previous two Lightning semis going to the home team in the seventh game.

In 2004, en route to winning their only Stanley Cup and with current Rangers player, Martin St. Louis, a star player on their team, the Lightning won game seven of the “semis” at home, vs the Philadelphia Flyers.

In 2011, the Boston Bruins won at home in game seven of the semi-finals vs the Lightning, en route to winning the Stanley Cup.

All three Lightning semi-final series, this one included, have “stood” at two games apiece, after 4 games.

In the previous two, the home team won the next three games. If that pattern persists, it will be the Rangers in seven games, which is my “in series” prediction.