Avalanche vs. Lightning Game 3 Stanley Cup Final Odds and Preview – June 20th, 2022

By Hank Blaine • June 20, 2022

The Colorado Avalanche played perhaps the perfect game in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final by destroying the two-time champion Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0 to take a 2-0 lead. Now the series shifts to Tampa, where the Lightning have been nearly unbeatable this postseason.

Nitrobetting preps you for the 2022 Stan;ley Cup Finals clash in this Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 3 preview. We share helpful insights that cover team and player stats and the latest NHL betting odds. You can also find timely betting trends and predictions that point you in the right direction.

Avalanche vs. Lightning Game 3 Information

Last city of the season.#FindAWay #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/QleRLswQsx
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 19, 2022

When: Monday, June 20 at 8:00 pm ET
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
TV: ABC, CBC, SN, TVAS
Radio: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Avalanche)) // 970 WFLA AM (Lightning)
Live Stream: NHL Live
NHL Betting Odds: Avalanche (-154) / Lightning (+128)

Why Bet on the Colorado Avalanche?

The Avalanche, who became the first team in 37 years with four seven-goal outings in a single postseason, captured a seventh straight victory to establish the longest win streak in a playoff year in franchise history. The Avs became the third team in NHL history to register a shutout in the Stanley Cup Final by a margin of seven or more goals, following the 1919 Seattle Metropolitans. Colorado also became the first team to score 11 or more goals through two games of a Final since … 1996, when they did it.

“It was certainly as close to perfect of a game as you can get from your players,” Coach Jared Bednar said of Game 2. “Coming out of Game 1 we were dangerous offensively, but I thought there was another step for our group. We evaluated that, we showed them some things and they did a nice job. And on the defensive side we were way better tonight. It wasn’t even close. I thought we made some big mistakes that led to goals against in Game 1. We got better in those areas, amongst others.”

Stellar young defenseman Cale Makar scored twice in the third period to become the second defenseman in NHL history to score both a shorthanded and power-play goal in a Stanley Cup Final game. The only other instance came in the May 24 suspended game during the 1988 Final when Bruins defenseman Glen Wesley – a rookie at the time – did so, with both goals coming in the second period just before the game was called due to a power failure at Boston Garden.

It was the 11th time in NHL history that a defenseman scored via both special teams in any postseason game. The last such instance came against Colorado in 1996 when Paul Coffey did so for Detroit in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

Mikko Rantanen had three assists to become the seventh different player in franchise history to record three or more points in any Stanley Cup Final game, following Joe Sakic (2x), Adam Foote, Alex Tanguay, Peter Forsberg, Rene Corbet and Rob Blake. The Avs are now 14-2 in the playoffs and have a plus-33 goal differential.

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning?

Teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven hold a series record of 341-54 (.863), including a 47-5 (.904) mark in the Stanley Cup Final. In 2022, teams are 4-2 in series after winning the first two games – the Lightning rallied to defeat the Rangers in the Conference Finals and the Rangers did so in the Second Round against the Hurricanes.

The rout was the Lightning’s most lopsided playoff loss ever and it was the second biggest margin of victory in Stanley Cup Final history. Star Steven Stamkos said the result was “totally not acceptable, especially at this time of year,” and acknowledged that some might have the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions counted out in the series because of it.

“Listen, people are gonna be watching this game tonight and probably think the series is over,” he said. “But we’re a very resilient group. We were in this position last round. So whether it’s 1-0 or 7-0 or 10-0, it’s a loss in the playoffs. We’ve got to man up as a team. Let’s get back home in front of our fans, and let’s see what we’re made of.”

Tampa Bay needs its stars to step up. Nikita Kucherov and Stamkos haven’t been visible enough. Neither has Victor Hedman. Andrei Vasilevskiy isn’t getting much help, but his struggles are a significant part of the Lightning’s problems.

The Bolts might catch one break in that Colorado might not have forward Andre Burakovsky for Game 3. He left Saturday’s game early in the second period after taking a Hedman shot off the hand. Burakovsky scored Colorado’s overtime winner in Game 1 and made the most of limited playing time in Game 2, notching a key assist on Valeri Nichushkin’s power-play goal and scoring another himself. Burakovsky now has three goals and eight points in 12 postseason games. The Avalanche are already playing short-handed as forward Nazem Kadri remains out following thumb surgery. He’s not likely to play in Game 3.

Avalanche vs. Lightning Betting Trends

Avalanche are 19-7 in the last 26 Monday games.
Avalanche are 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.
The total went over in 7 of Colorado’s last 10 games.
Lightning are 36-16 in the last 52 Monday games.
Lightning are 40-15 in the last 55 home games.
The total went under in 10 of Tampa Bay’s last 13 games.

Avalanche vs. Lightning Expert Betting Predictions

Lightning 4, Avalanche 2.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.