The Tampa Bay Lightning have their backs against the wall, as the Colorado Avalanche are manhandling them so far in the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Will the Bolts finally strike a win in Game 3? Or will the Avs go up 3-0? Check out our preview of this Lightning vs. Avs 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Finals game below.
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Betting Preview for the Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 3 on June 20, 2022
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
When: Monday, June 20, 2022, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Colorado Avalanche (+1.5) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (-1.5) – view all 2021-22 NHL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Colorado Avalanche (+1.5)
Regular Season Record: 56-19-7
What the Avs did to Tampa Bay in Game 2 was straight-up brutal. It was almost like Colorado had zero knowledge that it was up against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions bannered by arguably the best goalie of his generation. After scoring a touchdown and completing an extra-point kick, the Avalanche will look to continue their dominant ways in the series when they take their turn to play as the road team in the Finals on Monday. Speaking of which, the Avs are 23-9 in their last 32 games as visitors. Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar each scored a pair of goals in Game 2’s destruction of the Lightning, and with the way Avs are winning possessions and taking more quality shots, Colorado looks so poised to win their third game in a row in this matchup. Colorado is posting a 60 CF%, 68.95 xGF%, and 64.52 HDCF% – all even-strength situations –in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, so far.
The Over is 5-2 in the Avalanche’s last 7 road games.
Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning (-1.5)
Regular Season Record: 51-23-8
The Lightning have some soul searching to do ahead of Game 3. They definitely are still very much alive in the series, regardless of the manner they lost Game 2. They’ve been down this road before, as well. Back in the Eastern Conference finals, Tampa Bay lost the first two games of the series to the New York Rangers in the Big Apple before roaring back with four consecutive wins, beginning in a Game 3 home game. Andrei Vasilevskiy had a rough Game 2, but if it were any other goalie playing for Tampa Bay, the score would have likely been much worse for the Bolts. Despite getting shut out in Game 2, the Lightning are not lacking in talent offensively. Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Alex Killorn, and Ondrej Palat are always threats to find the back of the net, but it will also depend on how well they keep Colorado from taking the puck and entering the zone with numbers.
The Under is 5-0 in the Lightning’s last 5 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Lightning win, 4-3.
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