Avalanche vs Lightning Picks & Odds: Colorado Can Cruise To 3-0 Series Lead

The Colorado Avalanche (70-20-8) look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (63-29-9) at Amalie Arena on Monday. Can Colorado move within a game of its first championship since 2001, or will Tampa Bay fight back? Find out in our Avalanche vs Lightning prediction.

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Avalanche vs Lightning Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds

The visiting Avalanche opened as the favorite at -125 on the moneyline, with the Lightning coming in at +105 at home. The total was set at 6 goals with the OVER going 6-1 in the last seven meetings between the two clubs. Colorado comes into the contest with seven consecutive wins overall and seven straight playoff victories on the road – a couple of trends that support our Avalanche vs Lightning prediction.

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Avalanche Blow Out Lightning In Game 2 Win

Colorado put up three goals in the first period for the second straight game and never looked back, cruising to a massive 7-0 win over Tampa Bay in Game 2. Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar scored a pair of goals each while Mikko Rantanen collected three helpers. Darcy Kuemper had an easy night between the pipes, making just 16 saves to earn the shutout.

The Avalanche will now look to inch closer to their first Stanley Cup since 2001 when the series shifts to Amalie Arena for Game 3. Tampa Bay has won seven straight games at home since a 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on May 6 in their first-round series, but Colorado is a perfect 7-0 on the road in the playoffs.

Andre Burakovsky left Game 2 with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for Monday’s matchup.

Lightning Look To Recover From Another 2-0 Deficit

Tampa Bay gave up seven goals in a postseason game for just the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since Game 4 of the 2019 first round – that infamous four-game loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped just 23 of 30 shots in the loss while giving up a postseason career-high seven goals.

While the Lightning have shown an ability to come back when down 2-0 in a series – evident in their Eastern Conference final win over the New York Rangers – they would have to become the first team in NHL history to win consecutive rounds in that fashion if they’re going to earn their third straight Stanley Cup. 

Lightning vs Avalanche Pick & Insights

Lightning: Keys To Victory

The Lightning are an incredibly resilient team, which is reflected by their 19-2 record in their last 21 playoff games following a loss. That record was a perfect 18-0, of course, before the Rangers handed them their first set of back-to-back losses since 2019. Tampa Bay will need to come out looking like a championship team in Game 3, led by Vasilevskiy, who will need to hold Colorado to a couple of goals at most.

Avalanche: Keys To Victory

The Avalanche have flexed an impressive amount of depth in this series, with several goals from the blue line as well as their bottom six up front. If Colorado can continue to push the pace, outskate Tampa and control the majority of the scoring chances, the Avs should take Game 3 as well.

NHL Computer Pick: Avalanche -110

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