The two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t fold in Game 1, despite intense pressure from the Colorado Avalanche. Anyone making NHL expert picks would have been hard press to guess Colorado would allow Tampa Bay to rally from a 3-1 deficit to force overtime. The Avalanche allowed the rally despite holding a large edge in shots on goal. Check the Lightning at Avalanche Betting Analysis below.
What Tampa Bay will need to do is tighten things up on defense. Facing a hungry Colorado team and a crowd that hadn’t witnessed a Stanley Cup game in over 20 years, the Lightning struggled to get their legs under them. However, now with both teams having one game underneath their belt, both sides should be ready to play their style of hockey from the time the puck drops in Game 2.
Last Game Records
Colorado beat Tampa Bay 4-3 in Denver Wednesday night. The Avalanche lead the series 1-0.
Matchup Information
Lightning at Avalanche Betting Analysis
Tampa Bay Analysis
For the second straight series, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy got blitzed in the first of game of a series. Tampa Bay allowed three goals in the first 18 minutes, including two in the first 10. NHL betting stats did show, though, that Vasilevskiy was able to settle in and help keep the Lightning in the game over the next two periods.
Nicholas Paul, Ondrej Paul, and Mikhail Sergachev all scored goals for the Lightning. Tampa Bay struggled on the power play, going 0-for-3 on the game. The Lightning also allowed Colorado to go on the power play three times.
The Lightning were able to dig on defense to cause some havoc, blocking 25 shots. Tampa Bay also did a good job of protecting possession, only giving the puck away twice.
Colorado Analysis
How the Avalanche played after going up 3-1 was a valuable lesson for a team short on Stanley Cup experience. When you are playing the two-time defending cup champions, you can’t afford to have many letdowns. Anyone making NHL betting picks would have been hard-pressed to guess Tampa Bay would have been able to shut out the Avalanche in the second and third quarters.
The Avalanche helped a 38-23 edge in shots on goal but struggled in the face-off circle, only winning 40 percent of the draws. Andre Burakovsky ended up being the hero for Colorado, scoring the game-winner 1 minute and 23 seconds into overtime.
The Avalanche went 1-for-3 on the power play. Colorado also ended up exceeding Tampa Bay’s efforts in blocking shots. The Avalanche helped out goaltender Darcy Kuemper by blocking 25 of Tampa Bay’s shots.
Updates
Tampa Bay doesn’t have any injuries of note. Colorado doesn’t have any new injuries of note.
- Tampa Bay is 49-51 against the puckline.
- Colorado is 47-50 against the puckline.
- The over has gone 51-47 in the Lightning’s games this season.
- The over has gone 51-41 in the Avalanche’s game this season.
- Five of Tampa Bay’s last six games have gone under the total.
- Colorado has won six straight games when favored on the moneyline.
Lightning at Avalanche Betting Preview
NHL betting odds have Colorado as a -150 favorite. The Lightning are +130 on the moneyline. The over/under has been set at six goals.
Lightning at Avalanche Betting Prediction
The Tampa Bay Lightning have shown their mettle as two-time champions in Game 1. The Lightning were under overwhelming pressure from the start and didn’t fold when they go behind early. Tampa Bay has been a team in the playoffs that has dug in and blocked shots to help out its goaltender.
However, the Lightning will need to generate more shots against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2. Colorado is a team that will be happy to press forward and try to continue to score goals if the Lightning aren’t able to generate offense themselves. Tampa Bay will need to be able to try and take the pressure off Vasilevsky if they are going to even the series.
The Avalanche will need to try and avoid an emotional letdown from Game 1. Following an overtime win on the big stage, there is a possibility for a letdown. However, Colorado will be able to put enough pressure on to take a 2-0 lead in the series over the Lightning.
How to bet Lightning at Avalanche
Bet Colorado -150.
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