NHL Monday: Thiessen picks New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning in pivotal Game 5

Pivotal Game 5 of Stanley Cup Playoffs will see either Tampa Bay or New York take 3-2 lead

People obviously talk about Game 7s when they speak about decisive contests in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series.

But Game 5s when the series is tied 2-2 are very important: close to 80 percent of the time a team wins Game 5 to go ahead 3-2, it goes on to win the series.

We have two of those over the next two nights.

Monday, defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay hosts New York, with Vegas and Montreal going at it tomorrow.

Both series are so tight right now, but I have to think the Lightning, who are the better team, can get it done at home tonight.

Check Fubo.TV for schedules

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

New York (+150) at Tampa Bay (-180), 8 p.m. EDT (NBCSN and Fubo.TV), series tied 2-2

THE PICK:

Tampa Bay three-way ML (-106)

CORRECT SCORE BETS:

Tampa Bay 3-2