Game 5 between the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings takes place tonight in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Rangers need to win in order to avoid elimination as the Stanley Cup Finals Start Time is set for 8:00 p.m. tonight and it will be televised nationally on NBC. The odds for the game have the Kings as a big favorite at home.

The Rangers found a way to stay alive earlier this week, scoring early and hanging on for a Game 4 win. Tonight they'll continue to battle for their playoff lives as the Kings will be looking to clinch their second Stanley Cup in just a few seasons. 

The Staples Center will be rocking tonight as Kings fans are hungry for another championship. This cross-country battle between the two largest cities has been an entertaining finals, but Kings players and fans aren't ready to give themselves the win just yet. They have been a great team at home all season and are fortunate enough to be able to close out this series at home, but they're not taking it for granted. 

Los Angeles has been grinding the entire post season, having already won three series that went a full seven games. While they might not be tired just yet, that has to play some role in the fatigue of the team. It's remarkable they've built a 3-1 lead but when you have the best defensive team in hockey, only a couple of goals make the difference between winning and losing.

New York has opened up 2-0 leads in three of the four games in this series, but they only have one victory. Los Angeles has been playing from behind and they haven't gotten uncomfortable or started to press. The Kings have stayed the course, remained focused on the task and now are just 60 minutes from the ultimate prize in hockey. 

Tonight will be the battle of the goalies. Jonathan Quick has been outstanding in this post season and has been very well after the Rangers took leads. Henrik Lundqvist made 40 saves in a Game 4 win and he's got to dominate in between the pipes tonight. Lundqvist is 11-2 in the Rangers' last 13 elimination games with a 1.30 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage.

Game 5 is Los Angeles' NHL-record 64th playoff game in the last three seasons, and the Kings will tie the single-season record with their 26th postseason game of this season. The game will be the 93rd of the entire postseason, making it the longest playoff in league history.

But tonight we like the Rangers to get it done. They have built leads in three games this series and given it away. Tonight we like New York to get ahead in the game and hold on for the victory.

Free Pick: New York 3, Los Angeles 2

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