You can’t find a bigger NHL game this Thursday night than this showdown between superpowers Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche. This game also has the potential to become a preview of the potential matchup in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, so you definitely want to miss it. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NHL odds series, which includes our Lightning-Avalanche prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Lightning-Avalanche odds:
NHL odds: Lightning-Avalanche Odds
Lightning: +1.5 (-265)
Avalanche: -1.5 (+210)
Over: 6.5 (-105)
Under: 6.5 (-115)
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Why the Lightning Could Cover the Spread
If they were in any other non-Central division, the Lightning would be No. 1 with their 66 points – three points back of Atlantic leaders, Florida Panthers. Still, Tampa Bay has been phenomenal and carries great momentum into this marquee matchup against Colorado. The Lightning, who defeated the San Jose Sharks in overtime last Tuesday at home to the tune of a 3-2 score, are 7-1-1 in their past nine outings. Even without the services of star forward Nikita Kucherov in the last three games, Tampa Bay managed to go 2-1.
It’s about to get even better for the Lightning, as Kucherov is expected to return to action later tonight, so expect him to skate alongside Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point in the top line. It’s Tampa Bay’s second line that has been hotter of late, though, as the trio of Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli, and Steven Stamkos has tallied six goals and six assists in the previous five games. The offense can come anywhere from top to bottom of this loaded Lighting team that is third in the league with 3.37 goals for per contest.
While Tampa Bay’s power play attack has been sub-optimal (20.14 PP%) overall this season, the Lightning have stepped it up on the man advantage since the calendar flipped to 2022, with a 24.4 percent success rate in the last 13 games. On the other end of the ice for Tampa Bay is the ever-dependable Andrei Vasilevskiy, who leads the NHL with a 25-7-4 record to go along with a 2.23 GAA and .922 SV% – both top 10 numbers in the league.
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Why the Avalanche Could Cover the Spread
Boasting a massive total of 68 points that is eight more than the rest of the Central division, the Avalanche are gunning to go 2-0 this season against the Lightning. Colorado took down the Bolts way back in October on the road via a 4-3 shootout win, with Nathan MacKinnon earning third-star honors after a one-goal, two-assist performance. However, MacKinnon won’t be on the ice tonight to help Colorado’s attack. MacKinnon is set to miss his fourth game in a row due to a facial fracture and concussion.
Colorado’s offense has been fine though despite missing MacKinnon, with the Avs outscoring their last three opponents combined, 12-7. It was kind of embarrassing that the Avs lost (3-2 SO) to the Arizona Coyotes at home on Feb. 2 to end a blistering 10-game win streak, but things like that happen in the NHL. If anything, that loss might have just added fire under the Avs, who have all the motivation it needs to beat Tampa Bay – and a robust power play that they could unleash on the Lightning Thursday night. Colorado’s power play is making loud noises and it’s almost certain it’s going to let Vasilevsky hear footsteps.
The Avs have gone 8/22 (36.36%) on the power play in seven games ahead of this meeting with the Lightning. A well-rested Darcy Kuemper will be stationed in front of the net for the Avs in this game, and he’ll skate tonight with a 21-5-2 record and a 2.55 GAA and .915 SV% in this campaign. He stopped 29 of 33 shots faced in the initial meeting with the Lightning.
Final Lightning-Avalanche Prediction & Pick
It seems that the public is all over the Avs in this game, seemingly disregarding that MacKinnon is out. Then again, the Avs are that deep and talented enough to survive games without their best player. They have not lost back to back since November and continue to dominate control of the puck – but so are the Lightning. As the road team with the better goalie and stacked lines, especially with Kucherov on track to play, this looks like a game that will go in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Final Lightning-Avalanche Pick: +1.5 (-265)
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