Stanley Cup Final: Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Lightning-Avalanche Game 2

Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Lightning-Avalanche Game 2

Saturday's NHL trends are collected and ready to go for the Stanley Cup Final. Let's take a look at what you should know before betting on Lightning-Avalanche Game 2.

One trend to note is that the BetQL NHL model has gone 37-12 (76%) on all NHL picks in the past 14 days for a total return of $1,432 on $100 bets, so you'll definitely want to know who the model is backing.

If Game 1 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche didn't get you absolutely pumped for the rest of this series, you either don't like hockey or something is seriously wrong with you. Game 1 had everything we could ask for in a Stanley Cup Final game, with exciting goals, tense moments, a comeback to tie it up and an overtime classic. It's everything we live and breathe for as hockey fans, and the rest of this series promises to do the same. With Colorado taking the first game at home with a final score of 4-3 in OT, we now move on to Game 2, where Tampa Bay will be looking to steal a game on the road and gain home ice advantage. Will they be able to contain this Avalanche offense enough to do that, however? Can Colorado avoid blowing a two goal lead again for a more comfortable outcome? These two teams present many questions, so let's see where we go with them.

First off, we have to look at the stats in front of us and determine who was the better team in Game 1, regardless of the outcome of the game. Without a doubt, that would be the Avalanche, who dominated the Lightning in just about every way in that game. Yes, the final score is more indicative of a close game, but it really wasn't a particularly great game for Tampa Bay.

The Avalanche had a CORSI% of 56.83%, which is outstanding, but the real stat we can look at to tell just how dominant they were, is their xGP/60 number. Colorado had an xGP/60 of 3.51, compared to the Lightning at just 1.67. They also almost doubled the amount of high-danger chances that Tampa Bay had, with the Avalanche racking up 15.64, and the Lightning only having 8.8 in the game. It really wasn't a close contest, and the Avalanche should have straight up took Tampa to the cleaners.

The Lightning will have to do a much better job on the ice in Game 2 if they want to avoid the 0-2 hole to start this series. This is nothing new to the Lightning, as they have seen it all on their way to winning 11-straight playoff series in a row. I would not count out Tampa Bay in this series at all, and the Avalanche just play amazing hockey at home. Tampa thrives in this underdog role, as they have throughout these playoffs. They are 4-1 in their last five games as an underdog, but I have a tough time seeing them bounce back so quickly at Colorado after getting completely owned in Game 1 despite the final score.