We have arrived! After an 82-game regular season and three playoff rounds, only two teams remain. The two-time defending cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning will compete against the high-octane Colorado Avalanche in a seven-game series to hoist the cup.
This will be one of the most anticipated Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory as one of the best teams in the NHL will have to go through the defending champs. Both teams are battling their own respective injury issues going into this series. Ultimately, whichever team can make the other feel uncomfortable the most will take advantage of the series and win the Cup.
Game one is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM EST at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Viewers can tune in to ABC to watch this highly anticipated matchup with the Avalanche as the betting favorite at -155 for game one.
The Avalanche Roll Into the Finals
The Colorado Avalanche are one of the hottest teams in the NHL during the playoffs, which is a major reason they are the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. Currently, this team leads the playoffs in both shots per game and goals per game.
They win with an offensive attack that no other team can match. Forward, Nathan Mackinnon leads all forwards for the Avs with 18 points in the postseason. He is an electric talent that makes any defensive core struggle to contain him.
Colorado is also hoping that the dynamic forward of Nazim Kadri will be healthy for the series. If Kadri can come back healthy, he can add a much-needed extra tool for this team to use against Tampa.
Expect the Colorado Avalanche to push the pace and look to keep the Lightning guessing throughout the Stanley Cup Finals.
Tampa Must Defend What is Theirs
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been in this situation before. It has been two years, to be exact. They know what to expect in the Stanley Cup Finals, and they understand what is at stake in this series. The Lightning are looking to become the first team to three-peat in nearly 40 years. They find ways to win and do it by playing a structured style of play.
All signs of this team’s success point to their goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has a 12-5 record in the postseason with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. He makes scoring goals a tough task anytime he is between the pipes. Ultimately he is the X-factor for the Lightning in this series.
Expect Tampa to lean on their captain Steven Stamkos. From scoring meaningful goals to blocking shots, this captain does it all. He is the leader in the locker room and on the ice and will continue to help his team win at any cost.
Pick and Prediction
While this series is sure to be a long one, the Avalanche have been able to obtain the home-ice advantage. They are the odds favorite for good reason. They are fast, skilled, and smart in every situation they find themselves in.
The Avalanche are the money line favorites with -155 odds and have the puck line odds of -1.5 with +176 odds. Colorado is at home for game one, and expect them to come out flying once again as they have done all postseason. Pick the Avalanche to cover the -1.5 puck line with +176 odds in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals.
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