Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Colorado Avalanche Picks, Predictions, Odds
The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche meet at Ball Arena Saturday night for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, a best-of-seven series. The Avalanche lead the series 1-0. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ABC/ESPN+.
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Score Prediction
Lightning 4, Avalanche 3
Best Bet
Lightning +133
Over 6 (-110)
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE PREDICTIONS
The Colorado Avalanche fired out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes, and the fans were getting a little cocky on social media. But bettors know it's never over until it's over, especially against a proud and experienced Tampa Bay Lightning team, which just happen to be the two-time defending champs.
Ondrej Palat and Mikhail Sergachev notched goals just 48 seconds apart midway through the second period to throw cold water on the raucous Denver crowd, tying the game 3-3. There were plenty of opportunities in the third period, but no one was able to beat a strengthening Andrei Vasilevskiy, or a dependable Darcy Kuemper.
Kuemper returned from an upper-body injury, and looked strong after more than a week to rest and get back on track. He was tracking pucks well all evening, sans for the two-goal hiccup in the second.
Andre Burakovsky streaked in on passes from J.T. Compher and Valeri Nichushkin for the game-winning goal just 83 seconds into overtime, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. But the celebration certainly didn't come without some earlier consternation, and that's what the Stanley Cup Final is all about. If Game 1 is any indication, we're in for a really fun ride over the next week or so.
The Avalanche were still without Andrew Cogliano and Nazem Kadri, both out with upper-body injuries. The Lightning welcomed back Brayden Point, playing in his first contest since Game 7 of the Toronto series. He had an assist and five wins in nine attempts (56%) at the faceoff dot.
As we head into Game 2, if we've learned anything about the Lightning and Vasilevskiy, they bounce back nicely after losses in the postseason. The New York Rangers snapped a 18-0 run by the Lightning after a playoff loss in Game 2 last round, but the Lightning and Vassy are still an impressive 19-1 in the past 20 games following a postseason loss since 2019. We're see if the Avalanche can continue to work on denting that crazy record, or if the two-time defending champs continue to amaze.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING ODDS
Lightning +133
Avalanche -161
Lightning +1.5 (-208)
Avalanche -1.5 (+175)
Over 6 (-110)
Under 6 (-110)
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING RESOURCES
- Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022
- Matchup: Atlantic vs. Central
- Venue: Ball Arena
- Location: Denver, Colo.
- TV-Time: ABC/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 63-28-9
- ATS: 49-51
- O/U: 51-47-2
The Lightning hung in there when it looked like the game might be getting away from them, notching two big goals from Palat and Sergachev midway through the second period. OVER bettors loved that, as they were guaranteed of a win whichever team scored the next goal.
The Lightning need to get the big guys going in this series, and they obviously have plenty of them. Steven Stamkos was blanked in Game 1, while Alex Killorn, annoyance Corey Perry and Nikita Kucherov were also held without a goal. Kucherov did grab an assist, as did Victor Hedman, but the latter was also saddled with a minus-1.
The Lightning are still 13-4 in the past 17 playoff games as an underdog, while going 4-1 in the past five as an underdog. They're also an impressive 12-5 in the past 17 when playing on two days of rest.
The OVER cashed in Game 1, but the UNDER is still the dominant trend. I think we can toss that out the window here, however. The UNDER is 10-2 in the past 12 games for the Lightning, but the OVER is 5-1 in the past six entanglements against the Avalanche.
COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 69-20-8
- ATS: 47-50
- O/U: 51-41-5
The Avalanche fired out of the box in the first 17:31 of the series opener, dropping an Avalanche of goals on Vasilevskiy. Gabriel Landeskog notched the first goal of the series at 7:47, which is an important prop to some bettors. Nichuskin followed up with a goal at 9:23, and it looked like bad news for the visitors. Artturi Lehkonen had the only special-teams goal with a power-play marker at 17:31, with help from Mikko Rantanen and Landeskog.
Colorado doesn't have the recent flashy playoff history that Tampa Bay does. However, they have some awfully impressive numbers overall recently. They're 58-13 in the past 71 games at Ball Arena, and 58-13 in the past 71 as home favorite. And like the Lightning, they respond well after two days off, going 10-1 in the past 11.
For totals, OVER is 9-4-1 in the past 14 games against Eastern Conference teams, including Game 1, and the OVER is 16-6 in the past 22 games when playing on two days of rest. So if that's any indication, we should have more fire-wagon hockey in Game 2.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE CONCLUSION
Over the years, the Lightning have been rock-solid following a postseason loss. Yes, the Rangers ended that unbeaten streak in Game 2, topping the Lightning to hand them their first loss after a playoff loss in 19 tries. But the Rangers are golfing now, but good on them.
As we head into Game 2, the Lightning should be able to get the bounce back. Anyone with eyes knows that Vasilevskiy is the far more superior goaltender in this series, and it's not even close. He has the ability to steal games on his own, but looked a little frazzled in Game 1, especially the first period. That's been par for the course, no golf pun intended for the Rangers, as the Lightning are now 1-3 in the opening game of a series in this postseason.
The Avalanche have actually been beatable at home, while being world beaters on the road. I think Tampa Bay notches the Game 2 victory, perhaps just flipping the score to a 4-3 advantage in their favor. This should be another very entertaining back-and-forth affair with plenty of solid offensive spurts.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING TRENDS
- Lightning are 19-8 in the past 27 games overall.
- Lightning are 5-2 in the past seven Stanley Cup Finals games.
- Lightning are 13-4 in the past 17 playoff games as a 'dog.
- Avalanche are 57-19 in the past 76 games overall.
- Avalanche are 63-19 in the past 82 games as a favorite.
- Avalanche are 36-16 in the past 52 playoff games as a favorite.
- UNDER is 10-2 in the past 12 games for the Lightning
- UNDER is 5-2 in the past seven road games for the Lightning.
- UNDER is 7-4 in the past 11 as a road 'dog for the Lightning.
- Favorite is 16-4 in the past 20 meetings.
- Road team is 9-4 in the past 13 meetings.
- Lightning are 5-2 in the past seven trips to Denver.
- OVER is 5-1 in the past six meetings.
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