The home team has held serve in every game of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals so far but the New York Rangers are home underdogs for Thursday’s Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nitrobetting preps you for the 2022 Stan;ley Cup Finals clash in this Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 1 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.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 1 Information

• When: Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
• TV: ABC, CBC, SN, TVAS
• Radio: 970 WFLA AM (Lightning) // Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Avalanche)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Lightning (+131) / Avalanche (-152)

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning?

Not only did Tampa Bay win the Eastern Conference, but they did so without home ice advantage in any one of their three playoff series. In the first series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa rallied from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Leafs 4 games to 3. Then in their second series versus the Florida Panthers, the regular season’s top squad, Tampa dominated, sweeping Florida 4 games to 0.

The Eastern Conference Finals versus the New York Rangers saw the Lightning dominate again. Tampa lost the first two matches, but then won 4 straight. The Lightning are scorching heading into Game 1.

Why Bet on the Colorado Avalanche?

Since the playoffs began, Colorado has been the most impressive team. The Avalanche have lost 2 games during the playoffs. Both losses came against Central Division rival St. Louis. Other than losing to the Blues, Colorado has dominated.

Not only did the Avalanche beat St. Louis 4 games to 2, but they swept both the Nashville Predators in the first round and the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals. The Avs can beat you with defense, the Preds never scored more than 3 goals in any game, or with offense, Colorado outscored Edmonton 8-6 in Game 1 and outscored the Oilers 6-5 in Game 4.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Betting Trends

• Lightning is 5-1 in their last 6 Stanley Cup Finals games.
• Tampa Bay is 13-3 in their last 16 playoff games as an underdog.
• Under is 5-1 in Tampa Bay’s last 6 on the road.
• Avalanche is 56-19 in their last 75 games.
• Colorado is 9-2 in their last 11 after allowing 5 or more goals in their previous game.
• Over is 7-2-3 in Colorado’s last 12 games playing on 3 days rest.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Expert Betting Predictions

Both teams will enter this contest fired up, but the Colorado Avalanche have a massive edge because this happens in Ball Arena and the Avs haven’t been in a position to win a Stanley Cup in a long time.

Colorado has a ton of talent. The team can lean on one of the top three players in the NHL, Nathan McKinnon, but don’t have to lean on their star to score goals. Also, the defense has gotten much better this season.

But although Colorado has an edge, they face a tall task beating the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both teams are on winning streaks, but Tampa’s came versus a much better team in the New York Rangers than Colorado’s did versus Edmonton.

The Oilers’ offense is fantastic but the defense isn’t very good. But we don’t have to look at the Edmonton series to realize Colorado may not be ready for this. Tampa beat Toronto, Florida, and the Rangers. Colorado got to take down a weak squad in Nashville, a decent but not great team in St. Louis, and Edmonton.

The Lightning are battle tested and Colorado isn’t. The pressure won’t get to Tampa. It may get to Colorado. TB wins Game 1.

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