Defenseman Ryan Pulock made the play of the game for the New York Islanders, as they held on to beat Tampa Bay 3-2 in Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Semi-Final. After a scoreless first period, the Islanders scored 3 times in the second to go up 3-0. Brayden Point cut the lead to 2 when he scored for the 7th straight game early in the third, and three minutes later, Tampa Bay scored again to make it 3-2. In the dying seconds of the game, Tampa Bay’s Ryan McDonagh made a brilliant spin-a-rama move to draw New York goalie Semyon Varlamov out of the net, but Ryan Pulock came in front and made a huge save to preserve the win for New York as time ran out. What a finish!
The series is now tied 2-2 as the teams head back to Tampa Bay. With 2 of the next 3 games in Tampa Bay, the McDonald NHL Power Ratings team gives Tampa Bay a slight 55.6% edge to win the series.
In today’s game, top-ranked Vegas visits bottom-ranked Montreal for Game 4 of their series. Unlikely Montreal leads the series 2 games to 1, and we’re giving Montreal a 56.0% chance of winning the series. Go Habs!
Yesterday’s Game
Semi-Final – 2 vs. 3
Tampa Bay 2 at New York Islanders 3
- Series tied 2-2
- Tampa Bay now has a 55.6% chance of winning the series, down from 72.9%
Series schedule:
- June 13: New York Islanders 2 at Tampa Bay 1
- June 15: New York Islanders 2 at Tampa Bay 4
- June 17: Tampa Bay 2 at New York Islanders 1
- June 19: Tampa Bay 2 at New York Islanders 3
- June 21: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay
- June 23: Tampa Bay at New York Islanders
- June 25: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay (if necessary)
New simulation results:
- Tampa Bay has a 55.6% chance of winning (▼17.3)
- In 4 games: 0.0%
- In 5 games: 0.0% (▼29.8)
- In 6 games: 27.8% (▲4.6)
- In 7 games: 27.8% (▲7.9)
- New York Islanders has a 44.4% chance of winning (▲17.3)
- In 7 games: 20.9% (▲6.0)
- In 6 games: 23.5% (▲11.3)
- In 5 games: 0.0%
- In 4 games: 0.0%
Today’s Game
Semi-Final – 1 vs. 4
Vegas at Montreal
- Montreal leads series 2-1
- Montreal has a 56.0% chance of winning the series
Playoff Matches – Semi-Finals
Semi-Final – 1 vs. 4
Vegas (2nd in West, 82 pts) vs. Montreal (4th in North, 59 pts)
Montreal leads series 2-1
Chances of winning: Vegas 44%, Montreal 56%
McDonald NHL Power Ratings:
- Vegas: 1600, 1st overall
- Montreal: 1520, 4th overall
Playoffs so far:
- Vegas:
- First round: Defeated Minnesota in 7 games
- Division final: Defeated Colorado in 6 games
- Montreal:
- First round: Defeated Toronto in 7 games
- Division final: Defeated Winnipeg in 4 games
Series schedule:
- June 14: Montreal 1 at Vegas 4
- June 16: Montreal 3 at Vegas 2
- June 18: Vegas 2 at Montreal 3 (OT)
- June 20: Vegas at Montreal
- June 22: Montreal at Vegas
- June 24: Vegas at Montreal (if necessary)
- June 26: Montreal at Vegas (if necessary)
Simulation results:
- Vegas has a 44.0% chance of winning
- In 4 games: 0.0%
- In 5 games: 0.0%
- In 6 games: 18.6%
- In 7 games: 25.4%
- Montreal has a 56.0% chance of winning
- In 7 games: 14.0%
- In 6 games: 23.2%
- In 5 games: 18.8%
- In 4 games: 0.0%
Semi-Final – 2 vs. 3
Tampa Bay (3rd in Central, 75 pts) vs. New York Islanders (4th in East, 71 pts)
Series tied 2-2
Chances of winning: Tampa Bay 56%, New York Islanders 44%
McDonald NHL Power Ratings:
- Tampa Bay: 1577, 2nd overall
- New York Islanders: 1562, 3rd overall
Playoffs so far:
- Tampa Bay:
- First round: Defeated Florida in 6 games
- Division final: Defeated Carolina in 5 games
- New York Islanders:
- First round: Defeated Pittsburgh in 6 games
- Division final: Defeated Boston in 6 games
Series schedule:
- June 13: New York Islanders 2 at Tampa Bay 1
- June 15: New York Islanders 2 at Tampa Bay 4
- June 17: Tampa Bay 2 at New York Islanders 1
- June 19: Tampa Bay 2 at New York Islanders 3
- June 21: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay
- June 23: Tampa Bay at New York Islanders
- June 25: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay (if necessary)
Simulation results:
- Tampa Bay has a 55.6% chance of winning
- In 4 games: 0.0%
- In 5 games: 0.0%
- In 6 games: 27.8%
- In 7 games: 27.8%
- New York Islanders has a 44.4% chance of winning
- In 7 games: 20.9%
- In 6 games: 23.5%
- In 5 games: 0.0%
- In 4 games: 0.0%
Chances of winning the Stanley Cup
These chances were calculated before the semi-finals started.
1 Vegas Golden Knights 41.7% 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 27.6% 3 New York Islanders 20.6% 4 Montreal Canadiens 10.1%