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Lightning vs. Avalanche Prediction and Odds (Back Underdogs in Clash of Stanley Cup Contenders)

By Iain MacMillan

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche are set to face-off in Thursday night NHL action.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche are set to face-off in Thursday night NHL action. / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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A potential Stanley Cup preview is on tap for tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the road to take on the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avs are currently the Stanley Cup betting favorites at WynnBET, but a large portion of that is due to the strength of the Western Conference. Tonight's game against the back-to-back champs will be a true measuring stick for how good they really are.

Tampa Bay is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games, and Colorado is 9-0-1. The Avs were riding a 10-game winning streak, before losing at home to the Arizona Coyotes in one of the largest upsets in recent NHL history right before the All-Star break.

Let's take a look at the odds via WynnBET for tonight's interconference showdown.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Odds and Total

Moneyline:

  • Lightning +100
  • Avalanche -120

Puck line:

  • Lightning +1.5 (-240)
  • Avalanche -1.5 (+195)

Total:

  • 6 (Over -120/Under +100)

Lightning vs. Avalanche Betting Trends

  • Lightning are 7-2 in their last nine games.
  • Lightning are 6-2 in their last eight games against the Avalanche.
  • The OVER is 5-0 in the Lightning's last five road games.
  • The UNDER is 6-2 in the Avs' last eight games.
  • The Avalanche are 18-1 in their last 19 home games.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Prediction and Pick

The Avs recent record is a little bit deceiving. Playing in the much weaker Western Conference is going to make Colorado look like a better team than they really are. Certainly they are a contender for the Stanley Cup, but do they matchup well against the defending champs?

Over each team's last 10 games, the Lightning rank first in high danger scoring chances, averaging 14.81 per 60 minutes of play. Now they face a Colorado team that ranks 24th in high danger scoring chances against over that same stretch, allowing an average of 12.8.

The Lightning are a complete team from top to bottom, and I can't resist backing them as underdogs tonight.

Pick: Lightning +100

Iain is 26-20-1 (+5.23 units) with his NHL picks in 2022. You can see his detailed record here.

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