Lightning vs. Islanders: Game 6 betting odds, preview, and prediction

On the heels of an embarrassing 8-0 loss at Amalie Arena on Monday night, the New York Islanders return home to Nassau Coliseum to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning with their season on the line in Game 6.

“I just think the game, this result, how we played ... if that doesn’t motivate us, then I’m not too sure what will,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz told reporters after Game 5. “There’s nothing I can say that will motivate them. We’ve just gotta man up.”

Can the Isles extend their semifinal series, or will the Bolts secure their place in the Stanley Cup Final? Here’s our wagering preview.

Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders, 8:00 p.m. ET, NBCSN

The Lightning offense demonstrated their full capabilities in Monday night’s shellacking of the Islanders. If they come anywhere close to a repeat of that effort, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is his usual brilliant self, then Tampa should end this series in Game 6.

Brayden Point extended his postseason goal-scoring streak to an incredible eight games in his club’s 8-0 Game 5 triumph, but it was Alex Killorn and Steven Stamkos that stole the show by tallying two goals and an assist apiece. Isles netminder Semyon Varlamov was chased in the first period, leaving Ilya Sorokin to eventually allow five goals.

Varlamov is expected back in net for Game 6, but his 2.74 GAA and .919 save % in these playoffs are not awe-inspiring. By contrast, Tampa’s Vasilevskiy lowered his GAA to 2.05 and raised his save % to .936 as he recorded his third shutout of the 2021 postseason on Monday.

Mathew Barzal and New York will have to ensure that they stay disciplined if they want to win Game 6, as the Lightning have already outscored them on the power play in this series by a healthy 5-1 margin. Even if the Islanders stay out of the penalty box, the Bolts may win anyway, as they’ve taken four of their last five road games.

NHL pick: Lightning -155

Featured player prop: Nikita Kucherov to score (+185)

Tampa forward Nikita Kucherov has taken a back seat in the scoring department, instead using his uncanny vision to set up numerous successful scoring chances for his teammates. Kucherov has an impressive nine assists in this series but no goals, at least not yet.

A 30-goal scorer for five years running, Kucherov seems due to find the twine in what should be a winning effort in Game 6.