Avalanche vs. Lightning Game 6 Prediction and Pick (Andrei Vasilevskiy is Killing it at Home for Tampa Bay)

2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Five
2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Five / Harry How/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

The Colorado Avalanche were poised to break up the Tampa Bay Lightning’s three-peat in Game 5 and win the Stanley Cup on their home ice. Instead, the home favorites lost Game five and the Lightning staved off elimination for one more game.

Now, the Lightning head back home with a little more health and a lot more momentum for Game 6. Can the Avs, who are 8-2 at home during the postseason, use this momentum to send this game to a Game 7? 

Here are the odds for tonight’s matchup, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook

Avalanche vs. Lightning Odds and Total

Moneyline:

  • Avalanche -115
  • Lightning -105

Puck line:

  • Avalanche -1.5 (+210)
  • Lightning +1.5 (-260)

Total:

  • 6 (Over +100/Under -120)

Avalanche vs. Lightning Prediction and Pick

Tampa Bay really impressed me and despite being beaten up, worn out and pretty injured, they managed to hold off a comeback from the Avs in Game 5. A major factor in that win was Andrei Vasilevskiy who was a brick wall for the Lightning. Now, he will get a chance to perform in front of his home crowd where he sports a 1.82 GAA average. Should he perform up that level again in Game 6, I worry that the Avalanche won’t be able to get enough shots past him to avoid a Game 7.

The Avs are struggling on offense a bit right now and it’s the wrong time to fall into any kind of slump. After coming out of the gate hot with 11 goals in the first two games of this series, the Avs totaled seven in their subsequent three matchups. This has led to a situation where the Lightning has trailed for just five minutes of the last three games and appears to have turned this entire Stanley Cup on its head. 

Conserving Vasilevskiy recently, and his exceptional play at home, this is looking like another big win for the Bolts. They are healthier tonight and I expect them to come through for the home crowd. 

Pick: Lightning ML -105

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE