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 second game of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Avalanche and Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Colorado Avalanche – 8.00pm ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche will be playing game two of this seven game Stanley Cup Finals series. Game one was incredible as a comeback from the Lightning after being down 1-3 led to overtime. But in the end, Colorado scored and now has a 1-0 series lead heading into game two.
Marko Nadin
The Colorado Avalanche won the opening game of the Stanley Cup series in overtime despite the fact they took an early 2-0 lead in just under 10 minutes of play. The Avs took over from the very start, scoring three goals in the opening period but that was all until the end of regulation. The defending champions Tampa Bay Lightning managed to even things up in the second period before both teams went scoreless in the final one. Andre Burakovsky was the man of the match after he scored 83 seconds into the extra period to give the Avalanche a 1-0 series lead. Tampa Bay proved that they can be a tough opponent and despite the fact they lost the series opener, no one can sign them out. They were already down many times during these Playoffs and here they are still in play for their third consecutive NHL title.
Colorado has won 10 of the last 11 games played after two days off, 58 of the last 71 games as a home favorite, and 22 of the last 29 games played on Saturday. The Lightning has won 4 of the last 5 games as underdogs, 8 of the last 11 Stanley Cup Finals games, and 12 of the last 17 games played after two days of rest.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (+132)
Tony Battalio
The Tampa Bay Lightning are still very much alive in their quest to win their third straight Stanley Cup, even after their heartbreaking loss in game number one. Now they will be looking to even up the series here on Saturday evening as they won’t want to be down two games to zero heading home for games three and four respectively. Tampa Bay shocked a lot of people by making it to this point as many people expected them to be eliminated in the early rounds of the playoffs.
The Colorado Avalanche are flying high after their incredible win in game one in overtime. Now they will be looking to once again defend their home ice and take a two game to zero lead before heading to Tampa Bay. The Avalanche were the preseason favorite to lift the cup and now find themselves only three wins away from ending Tampa Bay’s two year reign over the National Hockey League. As for the result of this one I am going with the Avalanche to grab another win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-160)
Jeffery Thomas
The Colorado Avalanche defended home ice in Game 1 and came away with the 4-3 overtime victory to get out ahead in the series. Being down 0-1 is familiar territory for the Tampa Bay Lightning though, as they’ve fallen behind after Game 1 in now three of their four playoff series so there’s going to be no panic on their side. Colorado matched a franchise-record by winning that game, getting their playoff winning streak up to six games now.
They got four goals past Andrei Vasilevskiy but I wouldn’t bank on that kind of success to continue against him as the series continues. He’s usually on his best game following a loss and I expect more of the same Saturday night on the road. The Lightning as a franchise hold a .600 winning percentage in playoff series where they fall behind 1-0, which is the highest in NHL history and I expect them to fight back and even up this Stanley Cup Final at one game a piece.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (+132)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
