NHL Stanley Cup Final Roundtable Best Bets for Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 1

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is tonight!

The Tampa Bay Lightning head to Colorado to meet the Avalanche in the opening game of, what they hope will be, their third straight Stanley Cup Final victory.

In celebration of tonight's opening game, we have decided to throw together our best bets in one roundtable piece. So here it is, the BetSided's crews best bets for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

All odds listed below are via WynnBET Sportsbook.

Ben Heisler - Lightning +140

I feel like I'm walking into a trap with how popular the Lightning are to win Game 1 tonight, but even if it's chalk, how do you argue with their success at this point?

The Lightning have the best goalie in the playoffs in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and he comes in much sharper than either of Colorado's Darcy Kuemper. Meanwhile, they already showed their defensive capabilities of slowing down an explosive offense; highlighted by allowing just 3 goals in four games to the league's best offense in the Florida Panthers in the second round.

The Avalanche have had their moments of frustration in their home arena, and have a tendency to give up late goals in their building. I know the Lightning lost the first two in New York vs. the Rangers, but promptly won Game 5 on the road to take a vital 3-2 series lead. They can win anywhere.

Also, as BetSided's Reed Wallach points out, teams that sweep their opponents in their previous round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are 11-13 in their following series. I'll take Tampa on the moneyline to get an early edge in the series, especially with Colorado likely rusty after more than a week away.

Donnavan Smoot - Lightning +140

The Tampa Bay Lighting are getting a lot of action in this series, moving them from +155 underdogs to +145. After tonight, expect that number to drop even more. I’m picking the Lightning to go into Colorado and win Game 1. They have the better goaltender, the better defense and are still in a rhythm from their series against the Rangers.

Colorado hasn’t played in nine days, which I think will cause some rust for them. The Avalanche have been able to play a wide open style of hockey this entire postseason, but the Lightning will make this a closer game. If Tampa Bay can continue being aggressive and create more scoring chances, I like the lightning to be efficient and win a low-scoring battle.

Peter Dewey - Lightning +140

The three-peat starts tonight!

The Tampa Bay Lightning stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to win the Eastern Conference Finals, and now I think they are in a favorable position against a Colorado Avalanche team that has been resting waiting for this series.

The Lightning showed in the ECF that there would be a little rust to their game, but they have rebounded nicely. Tampa Bay has far more Stanley Cup Finals experience, and these teams are both very close in expected goals against and for this postseason.

I’ll bet on experience in Game 1.

Reed Wallach - Lightning +140

Colorado is off of an eight day layoff after sweeping the Oilers, and I think there's going to be some rust in Game 1 with the Lightning flying high after ripping off four-straight to beat the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Avs have the offensive edge, but I think we are getting a great number on Tampa Bay, who have the best goalie Colorado has seen this postseason in Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Joe Summers - UNDER 6 (-110)

I've been thoroughly impressed by both teams defensively throughout the postseason. The Lightning dominated the high-octane attacks of Toronto and Florida before allowing just five goals total in their four wins against the Rangers. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been spectacular in goal, allowing just 18 goals in his last 11 starts. Six of those goals came in one game, so if you remove that he's allowing an obscene 1.2 goals per game over 10 matches. Against playoff teams, at that.

But Colorado's defense has been rock-solid too. Darcy Kuemper isn't the goalie Vasilevskiy is, but the Avalanche's defensemen more than make up for it. Colorado successfully limited the Oilers and with all due respect to Tampa Bay, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are scarier than the Lightning's attack.

The under has hit in three straight when the Lightning are road underdogs and is 4-2 in Colorado's last six at home. Expect a low-scoring affair as these squads feel each other out in Game 1.

Matt De Saro - Avalanche -1.5 (+170)

I think that Colorado has a good chance of taking an early lead in this game, and this series, with the way the offense is playing during this run. The Avalanche have been the most dominant team during the 2022 playoffs so far, losing just two games in three series. Both those games came at home against the Blues, and Colorado hasn’t lost a game yet on the road.

The Avalanche have yet to lose a series opener during this playoff run. They beat the Predators 7-2, Blues 3-2, and Oilers 8-6. Not only have the Avs been winning these games, but their offense has been electric. 18 goals in three games are impressive by itself. But to do so in three series openers in a row against increasingly difficult playoff teams is quite an accomplishment.

On the flip side, Tampa Bay is 1-2 in series openers with just three total goals in three games. I'll bet that this trend continues and the Avs offense shows up in a big way against a tough Tampa Bay defense.

Iain MacMillan - Lightning +140

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.