Stanley Cup Final: Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Lightning-Avalanche Game 5

Betting odds and trends to know for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final

Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Lightning-Avalanche Game 5

Friday'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 5.

One trend to note is that the BetQL NHL model has gone 82-43 (66%) on all NHL picks in the past 30 days for a total return of $2,555 on $100 bets, so you'll definitely want to know who the model is backing.

The Colorado Avalanche placed one hand on the Stanley Cup on Wednesday after their defeat of the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime 3-2. The two-time defending champions are now just one loss away from finally having to relinquish their trophy after almost three seasons of some of the most dominant hockey we have seen in years. For Colorado, they are just one win away from the taste of glory, one that they have not had since 2001. The Avalanche have been the favorites all season to hoist the Cup when all was said and done, and it appears that square bettors might have been on the right side this year. Of course, you simply can never count the Lightning out of anything, and you can be absolutely certain that they will not go down without giving maximum effort in their quest for a three-peat. Even on the road in a very hostile environment, where the Avalanche have dominated their opposition this postseason, I expect Tampa Bay to unleash their full arsenal in Game 5. It's all or nothing for them, and they will treat the game as such.

Tampa Bay may have exhausted all of their efforts at home in Games 3 & 4, however. Looking up at a 3-1 series deficit is daunting for a team that has logged more minutes than any other NHL team over the last three seasons. Perhaps it is finally time for defeat, after long last, for this Lightning team. Tampa defenseman Erik Cernak’s injury is a huge blow for the team because it caused the remaining five defenders to log bigger minutes in OT and now they have to travel to the thin air of Colorado against an insanely good offense. Let's not forget, Brayden Point is also likely to miss another game, and Tampa hasn't had him at their disposal for quite some time. It is also clear that Nikita Kucherov is not at 100%, and injuries are difficult to heal with just one day off and going into the altitude. The one weakness for the Avalanche is their goaltending, but Darcy Kuemper rebounded from his poor Game 3, stopping 34 of the 35 shots after giving up an early goal. His confidence will be high going back home after that performance on the road.

Meanwhile, the Avalanche are 59-13 SU in their last 72 games as a home favorite. Colorado closed at +105 in Game 4, but sit as -180 favorites in Game 5, making it an 85-point swing just changing the venue. They continue to be absolutely dominant on the power play, scoring a power-play goal in each of the four games in this series and 6-for-13 with the man advantage overall. If Tampa Bay can play disciplined hockey and not allow Colorado to go on the power play, they may have a chance, since the Avalanche are significantly worse in five-on-five. The speed of Colorado may be too much for a Lightning defense that will be shorthanded and playing in thin air, and that means penalties could be coming.

It was a great run, and something Tampa Bay should be extremely proud of. You just can't win every year.

Pick: Colorado In Regulation -110

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