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Lightning vs. Avalanche Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Prediction and Odds (Take Advantage of Tampa as Underdog)

By Iain MacMillan

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will take place on Wednesday night in Colorado.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will take place on Wednesday night in Colorado. / Mike Carlson/GettyImages
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The puck drops at the Stanley Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night, June 15.

The Lightning are vying for the first Stanley Cup 3-peat since the Islanders won four in-a-row back in the early 1980's, but they're listed as +155 underdogs at WynnBET to beat the Avalanche and achieve the feat. Meanwhile, Colorado is vying for their first Stanley Cup victory since 2001.

Let's take a look at the odds via WynnBET for Game 1 action on Wednesday.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 1 Odds and Total

Moneyline:

  • Lightning +140
  • Avalanche -165

Puck line:

  • Lightning +1.5 (-205)
  • Avalanche -1.5 (+170)

Total:

  • 6 (Over -110/Under -110)

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 1 Betting Trends

  • The UNDER is 5-0 in the Lightning's last five games.
  • Lightning are 10-2 in their last 12 games.
  • Lightning are 6-3 in their last nine games vs. Avalanche.
  • Avalanche are 12-4 in their last 16 home games.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the last five games between these teams.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 1 Prediction and Pick

It's interesting to note that in both of the regular season meetings between these teams, the home team was listed as the -115 favorite. If that's the case, why do the Avalanche deserve being -165 favorites this time around? Especially considering their team save percentage is below .900 in the playoffs, and they're missing one of their key players in Nazem Kadri.

I'll be on the Lightning to win this series, and I'm on them to take home the win in Game 1. Not only do they have the experience advantage, but you can't argue how much tougher their road to the Final has been. The Avalanche, while disposing their opponents with ease, haven't had to face a tough team all playoffs. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay fought through the Maple Leafs, the Presidents Trophy winning Panthers, and the Rangers, who boasted the best goaltender in the NHL.

The Lightning are being severely undervalued this series, and if I'm wrong, I'm willing to go down with the ship.

Pick: Lightning +140

You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.

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