The set-up: The 41-22-2 NY Rangers will be Florida tonight to face the 30-26-8 Tampa Bay Lightning. The Rangers, who rank fourth in scoring (3.18 goals per game), have scored a total of just six goals in losing three of four. Meanwhile, Andrei Vasilevskiy is warming up to his new role as No. 1 goaltender for the Lightning. Vasilevskiy is 3-0-0 with a .951 save percentage since fellow netminder Ben Bishop was dealt to Los Angeles.

NY Rangers: New York has been outshot by 28 over the last three contests, and only a standout performance by Henrik Lundqvist at Boston on Thursday produced a victory. One of the major issues over the last few weeks has been a punchless power play that is 0-for-19 over the last eight contests and 1-for-33 during a 13-game span. New York could again be without leading goal scorer Michael Grabner (26) for the third straight game due to a hip injury.

Tampa Bay: While the Rangers are struggling, the Lightning are 8-2-2 over their last 12, with the sudden surge getting them to within three points of the East's final wild card spot.
Nikita Kucherov is one of the hottest performers in the league with seven goals and seven assists during a six-game point streak. Kucherov leads the team with 63 points.

The pick: I'm well aware that the Rangers own the league's best road record at 22-8-0 but the Lightning are on a roll and Vasilevskiy, has provided a real spark in goal. Tampa Bay is a 10* play.