Stanley Cup Final: Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Lightning-Avalanche Game 1

Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Lightning-Avalanche Game 1

Wednesday'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 1.

One trend to note is that the BetQL NHL model has gone 39-15 (72%) on all NHL picks in the past 14 days for a total return of $1,289 on $100 bets, so you'll definitely want to know who the model is backing.

The time has finally arrived, and after months of brutal and exciting hockey, we have reached the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. This could be one of the best series we have had in the Cup Final for many years, as the back-to-back defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Colorado Avalanche, who have been the favorites to win the Cup since the preseason. The Lightning are trying to become the first team to three-peat since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980-83, but they will have an uphill climb according to sportsbooks, who have them listed around +160 underdogs in the series.

The Lightning have been here and done that, which is what many people who are taking them to win the series are banking on having an effect. Getting swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2019 Playoffs as Presidents Trophy winners might have been the best thing that happened to Tampa Bay. They have since won 11 playoff series in a row and two straight championships. Not only do they have a massive experience advantage in this series over the relatively young Avalanche, but I think everyone can agree that the road to the 2022 Cup Final for Tampa Bay has been far more difficult than it has been for Colorado.

The Lightning defeated superstar Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Presidents Trophy winning Florida Panthers, and the New York Rangers, who boasted Vezina Trophy favorite Igor Shesterkin. Meanwhile, the Avalanche blew through their opponents like an 8-year-old eats cake, wiping the floor with their lesser opposition. Colorado is a -165 favorite in Game 1, which is very odd considering that they were just -115 favorites at home against the Lightning in the regular season. Why the massive move in the number? The Lightning are 10-2 in their last 12 games and 6-3 in their last nine games vs. Avalanche.

The Avalanche have been the favorites all season to win this series and hoist the Stanley Cup over their heads. Colorado should be rested and ready to go, as they have not played since their 6-5 overtime victory at Edmonton on June 6. As I mentioned above, the rest was hardly needed, as the Avalanche have just destroyed their opponents. They have played just two games above the minimum they could possibly play through the first three rounds. This is about as lethal of on offense we have seen for quite some time, and in the postseason, they have been just as good. The Avalanche have four players in the top 10 in playoff scoring, and it doesn't look like they are slowing down.

Defenseman Cale Makar has been incredible, and he is going to be one of the biggest stars of the next 10 years in hockey. Makar has recorded five goals and 17 assists in 14 contests, and has registered five multi-point performances this postseason and had at least three points in each. The Avalanche will be without Nazem Kadri, who has been one of their key players in the postseason. That could be bad news for a team that will need some offense to win, with a team SV% below .900. Still, even without Kadri, this offense can keep up with anyone. The Avalanche are 12-4 in their last 16 home games, so they could have a real advantage there.