The Tampa Bay Lightning (6-4-2) face the Colorado Avalanche (7-1-5) Tuesday. Puck drop from Ball Arena in Denver Colorado, is set for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Lightning vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Tampa won 2-0
The Bolts have won 5 straight games after a 4-2 win at Utah Sunday as slight (+101) dogs. C Anthony Cirelli drilled his seventh goal of the season as backup tendy Jonas Johansson stopped 25 of 27 shots fired his way. It was a quiet game for RW Nikita Kucherov, who went pointless for the second straight game, and had just 1 SOG. When the Lightning are winning without his contributions, that’s a scary team.
The Avs have lost in regulation once this season, but they’ve dropped 5 of 7 after a 3-2 OT loss at San Jose Saturday. The Avs were -238 favorites as some Sharks loyalists got paid. LW Martin Necas (11th) and C Nathan MacKinnon (10th) each tickled the twine. G Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 20 of 23 in his first start of the season back from injury.
Lightning at Avalanche odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:36 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Lightning +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Avalanche -150 (bet $150 to win $110)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning +1.5 (-190) | Avalanche -1.5 (+155)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)Lightning at Avalanche projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (3-3-2, 2.61 GAA, .899 SV%) vs. Scott Wedgewood (7-1-2, 2.53 GAA, .900 SV%)
After a rough start to the season, allowing 9 goals in his first 2 starts, Vassy has been electric. He has allowed 4 goals combined in his last 3 starts against Dallas, Nashville and Vegas. He went 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV% in 2 starts against the Avs last season.
The Avs go back to Wedge, as this may be a situation a 1A and 1B for a while, and he has been good. He stopped 21 of 23 in a 4-2 win over Vegas Friday. A career backup, Wedgewood hasn’t faced Tampa since 2022-23, when he was a tough-luck loser, stopping 28 of 30.
Lightning at Avalanche picks and predictionsPrediction
Lightning 3, Avalanche 2
I realize the Avs are great at home, but they’ve been kept out of the win column 5 times in 7 games. And you’re going to offer me +125 for Tampa, winning with diminished production from Kucherov – AND Vasilevskiy is in between the pipes?
Give me LIGHTNING (+125) please and thank you.
Give me NIKITA KUCHEROV OVER 0.5 POWER-PLAY POINTS (+150). He rises for this matchup as he had 2 goals and 4 assists in 2 games against Colorado last season. Two of those assists came on the PP.
The Bolts are 3-7 O/U in their last 10, and the Avs are 4-6. Recent matchups have been a little wonky as Tampa has won 8-2, 5-2 and 6-3 in the last 3 meetings. Colorado went through some goalie conundrums, but they have it sorted out now.
Give me UNDER 6 (+100).
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