The Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning meet for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final Monday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The Avalanche lead the series 2-0. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we look at the Avalanche vs. Lightning Stanley Cup Final Game 3 odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Avalanche streak into Game 3 with a pair of victories in Denver in the first 2 games. Colorado nipped Tampa Bay 4-3 in overtime in Wednesday’s series opener before routing the Lightning in Game 2 Saturday by a 7-0 count.
The Lightning have now dropped 2 of their last 3 playoff games following a loss after rebounding successfully in 18 consecutive postseason setbacks prior to Game 2 against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Avalanche at Lightning odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:47 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Avalanche -112 (bet $112 to win $100) | Lightning -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche -1.5 (+200) | Lightning +1.5 (-290)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Avalanche at Lightning projected goalies
Darcy Kuemper (8-2-0, 2.44 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO – postseason) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (12-7-0, 2.60 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO – postseason)
Kuemper picked a tremendous time for his best performance of the postseason. The Canadian goaltender turned aside each of the 16 shots he faced in Game 2 for his 1st shutout of the playoffs and the 2nd postseason shutout of his career.
Vasilevskiy was buried for 7 goals on 30 shots in Game 2, and he has yielded 11 total goals on just 68 shots in this series. He has also allowed 3 or more goals in 4 of his last 8 outings.
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Avalanche at Lightning picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 3, Avalanche 2
Money line
The LIGHTNING (-108) are short dogs on home ice, and that likely is for two reasons. One, the Avalanche manhandled them in Game 2, and two, Colorado has won all 7 of its postseason games on the road. All good things come to an end, however. Vasilevskiy will be vastly improved in Game 3 after getting blitzed for 7 markers Saturday, and he will be the reason Tampa makes this a series.
Against the spread
The Lightning +1.5 (-290) will cost nearly three times your potential return, and there is just no value there. If you like Tampa on home ice, just play it straight up.
PASS.
Over/Under
The Over has cashed in the first two games of this series, but UNDER 5.5 (-130) is the way to go in Game 3.
Tampa Bay should be better defensively on home ice, feeding off its crowd for a much-needed boost. Look for Vasilevskiy to get back to his world-class self in this one, which will be the lowest-scoring game of the series.
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