There could be a new Stanley Cup champion as early as Friday night as the Colorado Avalanche are up 3-1 on the two-time champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the Avs are solidly favored at home to finish things off at home in Game 5.

Nitrobetting preps you for the 2022 Stan;ley Cup Finals clash in this Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 5 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 5 Information

One to go. #StanleyCup

????: Tomorrow at 8p ET on ABC, @ESPNPlus and @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/B0PAzePvAr

— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2022

• When: Friday, June 24 at 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 (+150) / Avalanche (-182)

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning?

During the regular season, Tampa Bay was essentially unbeatable when leading after two periods but the Lightning blew a 2-1 lead in the third and lost Game 4 in overtime, 3-2, to put their three-peat hopes almost to rest. Colorado outshot Tampa 10-3 in overtime. Twice in Game 4 the Bolts failed to make a one-goal lead stand up. The Lightning now face elimination for the third time in this postseason.

Nazem Kadri scored the overtime winner at the 12:02 mark in his first game back in the lineup since Game 3 of the Western Conference Final after suffering an upper-body injury and undergoing surgery. Kadri has seven goals and 15 points in 14 appearances this postseason.

Nathan MacKinnon scored on the power play, while Andrew Cogliano also found the back of the net for the Avalanche in regulation. Cogliano posted the game-tying goal at the 2:53 mark of the third period. He has three goals and six points in 14 games. MacKinnon was due for a goal in the series after piling up 14 shots on target over the first three games of the series and being credited with eight more on Wednesday.

Mikko Rantanen stretched his point streak to eight straight games on Wednesday with an assist. He has compiled four goals and 10 helpers during his scoring spree. Rantanen has racked up 25 points, including 20 assists, in 18 playoff games. Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves on 39 shots in the victory. He also picked up the secondary assist on Kadri’s game-winning goal.

Why Bet on the Colorado Avalanche?

The Avalanche’s overtime winner in Game 4 didn’t come without a bit of controversy: “You’re going to see what I mean when you see the winning goal. And my heart breaks for the players. Because we probably still should be playing,” said Lightning Jon Cooper after the contest. He was referring to the fact Colorado had too many men on the ice at the time of Kadri’s overtime goal. The NHL later issued a statement that none of the on-ice officials saw too many men on the ice at the time and the play wasn’t subject to review.

Anthony Cirelli and Victor Hedman had the two Tampa Bay goals. Cirelli opened the scoring 36 seconds into the first period. He has three goals this postseason, including two in the past two contests. He appeared to have his arm cut by a skate near the end of the second period but he returned for the start of the third and finished the game. Hedman gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead at the 10:42 mark of the second period to end a 15-game goalless drought for the 31-year-old defender. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 34 shots in the loss.

Defenseman Erik Cernak suffered a lower-body injury in Game 4. Cernak left the game in the second period after blocking a shot with his left leg. He attempted to return, but it was deemed that he wasn’t able to continue. It’s not clear if he can play Friday and that would be a loss.

For the 15th time in NHL history and first since 2016, at least two of the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final required overtime. Wednesday was Colorado’s sixth overtime game of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs (5-1), tied with 2001 (3-3) for the second most in one postseason in franchise history behind 1996 (5-2). Colorado’s victory was the 36th comeback win overall in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most in a four-round postseason since 2014 (36).

The Avalanche won both games at home earlier this series and will want to finish the wounded Lightning.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Betting Trends

• Lightning are 1-4 in the last 5 road games.
• Tampa Bay is 11-5 SU in the last 16 games.
• The total went under in 11 of Tampa Bay’s last 15 games.
• Avalanche are 44-14 in their last 58 games following a win.
• Avalanche are 22-6 in their last 28 Friday games.
• The total went over in 4 of Colorado’s last 5 games.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Expert Betting Predictions

Avalanche 4, Lightning 2.

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