When are the odds makers going to realize how good the Rangers are on home ice? Since losing the very first game of the playoffs, the Rangers have gone on to win 8 straight games at the garden. In those 8, they’ve given up only 16 total goals, 2 per game. There’s a sentiment out there that they might be due for a home loss, but with every streak, there are far more games where it continues than it ends. It’s the nature of a streak.
Besides the home advantage, there are a few factors going for the Rangers. Obviously Tampa did an excellent job in Game 4 to limit the power play opportunities and they exposed the Rangers’ offensive reliance on it. But that was without Ryan Strome and for part of the game Filip Chytil, who have been pivotal in the attack. Tonight they are both game time decisions but the indications early are positive. Another factor in favor of the Rangers is that Brayden Point will remain out of Game 5. Tampa’s scoring is not the same without him and every game he stays out is another point (pun intended) in favor of the Rangers.
