Lightning vs Avalanche Stanley Cup Closing Recreation 2 Picks and Predictions: Tampa Bay Avoids 2-0 Gap

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The Colorado Avalanche outplayed the Tampa Bay Lightning in Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Closing with a 4-3 additional time victory, however the Bolts had been aggressive regardless of not taking part in their greatest hockey.

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For Saturday’s rematch, Tampa opened up shorter on the moneyline than it did on Wednesday. If Andrei Vasilevskiy can begin sharper, this calmer and extra skilled Tampa group may very well be heading into Recreation 3 with the sequence tied at one apiece.

We convey you our free NHL picks and predictions for Lightning vs. Avalanche.

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Lightning vs Avalanche Recreation 2 odds

This odds widget represents the greatest odds out there for every betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Avalanche opened as -175 favourites within the opener earlier than closing at -145. They’ve opened at -160 on the moneyline for Recreation 2 and shortly moved to -155 after opening.

The entire can be displaying some discrepancies from Recreation 1 the place it closed at -120 to the Over 6. On Thursday morning, the full opened at 6 however shaded 5 factors to the Beneath regardless of a 4-3 additional time remaining on Wednesday.

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Use the reside odds widget above to trace any future line actions proper till puck drop and you’ll want to try the complete NHL odds earlier than betting to make sure you get one of the best quantity.

Lightning vs Avalanche Recreation 2 predictions

Predictions made on 6/16/2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Click on on every prediction to leap to the complete evaluation.

Lightning vs Avalanche Recreation 1 information

• Location: Ball Area, Denver, CO
• Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022
• Puck drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC, Sportsnet

Lightning vs Avalanche Stanley Cup Closing odds (COL leads 1-0)

Lightning: +220
Avalanche: -270

Lightning vs Avalanche Recreation 2 betting preview

Key accidents

Lightning: No accidents to report.
Avalanche: Nazem Kadri F (Questionable), Andrew Cogliano F (Questionable).

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Discover our newest NHL harm reviews.

Lightning vs Avalanche head-to-head document since 2016-17

Lightning: 6-5 SU, 36 objectives for.
Avalanche: 5-6 SU, 34 objectives for.

Betting development to know

The Lightning are 4-0 straight-up of their final 4 Saturday video games. Discover extra NHL betting traits for Lightning vs. Avalanche.

Lightning vs Avalanche Recreation 2 picks and predictions

Our aspect and whole predictions are based mostly upon our evaluation of the road and whole on this sport. Our greatest wager is our favorite choose throughout all markets.

Moneyline evaluation

The Tampa Bay Lightning bought off to a horrible begin within the opener of the Stanley Cup Closing as Andrei Vasilevskiy let in some uncharacteristically mushy objectives within the first body. The Bolts did claw again into the sport and power additional time because of some shaky goaltending from Darcy Kuemper however the greatest takeaway for us from Recreation 1 is that Tampa Bay had an opportunity to win regardless of a poor effort.

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The xGoal and high-danger probability battles had been simply received by the Avs, however Tampa nonetheless discovered a strategy to erase a multi-goal lead and did so with simply 23 photographs and 1.71 xGoals. Colorado beginning goalie Darcy Kuemper was making his first begin for the reason that third spherical through which he exited with an upper-body harm. He had posted a mediocre sub-.900 save share earlier than hitting the shelf and regarded all the pieces of an unreliable goalie on Wednesday.

Kuemper completed with a -0.75 objectives saved above anticipated and it wouldn’t shock us if he didn’t end the sequence. Wednesday’s additional time victory was the fifth straight sport the netminder has failed to complete with a save share above .900.

The Avs have the extra explosive offence and the higher velocity and transition sport within the impartial zone, however so did the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers who the Bolts eradicated within the earlier rounds.

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After the sport, Colorado coach Jared Bednar stated he spent a variety of time watching the Maple Leafs of their seven-game sequence with the Lightning as he “sees a variety of similarities within the Leafs’ gamers and personnel to ours”.

The one downside with that’s that Jon Cooper made nice changes to remove the Leafs’ velocity and transition sport at even power. Tampa has the expertise and the talent to do it once more with the Avs.

Vasilevskiy settled in after a tough three-goal first and saved the Bolts within the sport by stopping all the pieces he noticed within the second and third intervals. With the Lightning proving they’ll rating even with only a few possibilities, a sharper Massive Cat early on in Recreation 2 may have Tampa Bay returning residence with a 1-1 sequence.

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Andrei Vasilevskiy in 2022 Playoffs Recreation 1 1-3, 3.99 GAA, .884 Save % Recreation 2 – 7 11-3, 1.90 GAA, .939 Save % — Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 16, 2022

If that is going to be a high-scoring sequence, Tampa can go toe-to-toe because it did with the Leafs but when the Lightning can decelerate the quicker Avalanche, the benefit actually swings with the group with the higher netminder.

The books have additionally picked up on this because the Bolts opened at +150 in Recreation 1 (closed at +125) and opened Recreation 2 at +140 (now at +135). Colorado dominated Recreation 1 however in some way wanted OT to get the win. That might go a good distance within the Tampa dressing room.

Tampa dropped its first sport to the Maple Leafs, 5-0, and to the Rangers, 6-2, earlier than bouncing again in each Recreation 2s.

Prediction: Lightning moneyline (+135 at bet365)

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Over/Beneath evaluation

Beneath backers had been left shaking their collective heads after Recreation 1’s four-goal first interval. The objectives weren’t even high quality ones as Vasilevskiy gave up two softies early together with his first five-hole purpose allowed within the postseason. It was an uncharacteristic first body for the guests who settled in after the primary intermission. The reside whole after the primary body was 8.5 leaning to the Over.

Regardless of the Lightning with the ability to shut the door within the second and third intervals, Kuemper couldn’t on the opposite finish and allowed two fast objectives within the second — one on a 2-on-2 and the opposite on a weak wrister from the purpose. Kuemper regarded awkward on the Lightning’s first purpose, too.

Trusting a goalie who has 3.53 objectives in opposition to common and a .853 SV% over his final 5 playoff video games is asking loads for the Beneath to money. Colorado has proven it will probably make up for its netminder’s sub-par play offensively however in saying that, we’ve got to lean on the Over in Recreation 2.

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We’re effectively conscious of recency bias and had been on the Beneath in Recreation 1, but when Tampa can get objectives previous the Colorado starter this simply, we may simply see one other sequence like Tampa vs. Toronto. That sequence noticed the Over hit in 5 straight video games relatively simply after the opening contest.

Each golf equipment can get some scoring on the third strains as Artturi Lehkonen is on the wing with Darren Helm and Logan O’Connor for the Avs whereas the Bolts have the higher offensive depth as their third line at the moment options Brayden Level within the center between Nick Paul and Ross Colton. Each bluelines even have elite scoring in Victor Hedman and Cale Makar.

Finally, this whole hinges on the play of Kuemper in web and after Recreation 1’s efficiency, we are able to’t belief him to close down the Bolts — even with the minimal quantity of photographs confronted.

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Prediction: Over 6 (-105 at bet365)

Greatest wager

After Recreation 1, we’ve got a significantly better understanding of every group’s lineups which is huge when contemplating prop performs, as a variety of it has to do with alternatives.

Colorado’s Nazem Kadri was again at follow on Thursday however he simply picked up a stick for the primary time after thumb surgical procedure so we’re bearish that he’ll swimsuit up Saturday night time.

J.T. Compher is centreing the second line and ought to be a goal for prop gamers. Valeri Nichushkin had a purpose and an help Wednesday whereas additionally recording a team-high six photographs on web and can be one other good Av to focus on. Nonetheless, we’re going throughout the ice and getting a first-line winger for a really affordable -125 at Caesars to document a degree.

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Ondrej Palat at the moment has 17 factors by 18 playoff video games this postseason and finds himself taking part in with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov on the Bolts’ high line. He had a phenomenal 2-on-2 purpose in Recreation 1 as Kucherov did the onerous work and Palat simply needed to direct the puck in. Since Could 30, no NHL participant has extra factors than the Tampa winger at 9 by seven video games (5 objectives, 4 assists).

He had the group’s greatest xGoals at 5-on-5 on Wednesday and noticed loads of time on the second power-play unit. If the Lightning are going to get again into the sequence, the unsung Palat might be an enormous a part of it. His linemates have level totals of 0.5 at -150 and -170 to the Over.

Choose: Ondrej Palat Over 0.5 factors (-125)

Stats from Covers, Moneypuck, Pure Stat Trick and NHL.com

This text initially appeared on Covers.com, learn the complete article right here