We have loved the action throughout the impressive NHL playoffs for the 2021-22 season, and now we are down to two teams. This is sure to go down as one of the most exciting Stanley Cup Finals series as we see the Avalanche and Lightning fight for the right to lift the Stanley Cup. Will the Lightning manage to three-peat, or will we see the Avalanche win for the first time in over 20 years?
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Look below to find our free NHL picks for the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Avalanche and Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Colorado Avalanche – 8.00pm ET
Well, this is it! After an intense year of the NHL we are down to just two teams that will compete for the Stanley Cup, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning scraped through the first round against the Maple Leafs, winning that series 4-3, they then blasted past the Panthers, winning 4-0, and in the Conference Finals they were too good for the Rangers, winning the series 4-2. For the Avalanche, they made quick work of the Predators in Round 1, winning 4-0, next up were the Blues, who they beat 4-2, and they were dominant in their Conference Finals series with the Oilers, winning 4-0.
Marko Nadin
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a chance to become the first team to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders did it in 1984. Not many gave the Lightning a chance to reach the final but they found their way despite being 2-3 down in the series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and 0-2 down to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Colorado Avalanche had an easier road to the Finals losing only two games to the St. Louis Blues in the second round. This team lost in the second round in the three previous seasons and finally got themselves a chance to fight for the trophy.
Tampa Bay has won 6 of the last 10 games against Colorado but the Avalanche won both games this season. Colorado has also won 47 of the last 57 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 57 of the last 70 home games. The Lightning have won 11 consecutive playoff series, 90 of the last 116 games after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game and 38 of the last 52 games after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. The Avalanche are going into this one much fresher and will use the home court to take a series lead after the opener.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-152)
Tony Battalio
The Tampa Bay Lightning are back in the Stanley Cup Finals for the third straight season. They will be looking for a three-peat this season and it is fair to say they are playing their toughest opponent in the last three seasons. The Lightning walked their way through the regular season it seemed like as they only managed to snag a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference this season.
The Colorado Avalanche were expected to be here before the season began and they have achieved that prediction. Now they will have a chance to win the Stanley Cup this season and end the Tampa Bay Lightning’s run at a three peat after they have won the last two years. As for the result of this game, I am going with the Colorado Avalanche to get the win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-152)
Jeffery Thomas
The Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning start up a highly-anticipated Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday with the Lightning looking to three-peat as champions. However, Colorado comes in as favorites to take the cup home and are riding a five-game winning streak en route to making it to the final. Tampa’s path to this point has been due in large part to the play of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy who surprisingly hasn’t been that great against the Avs in his career. He holds a 1-3-1 record in five games against them with a 3.41 goals against average and .877 save percentage which are all below average.
I think Game 1 will be yet another mediocre to bad performance for him to start this series against Colorado who has been money in Game 1’s this postseason. They are 3-0 straight up and 2-1 against the spread outscoring opponents 18-11. The Lightning on the other hand have started two of their three series slow by losing Game 1 and being outscored 2-11 in the two losses. Give me the Avs here at home to get out ahead in this Stanley Cup Final.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-152)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
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