Today could mark the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. Or we will be getting a Game 7.
For the second-straight game, the Colorado Avalanche have a chance to clinch their first Stanley Cup since 2001. Tampa Bay avoided elimination with a 3-2 victory in Game 5, and now the series returns to their home ice. Can the two-time defending champions stave off elimination one more time?
Let’s take a look at the betting information at WynnBET’s online sportsbook and try to project what will transpire on the ice. All information as of Sunday morning.
Betting Odds
Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+210)/Tampa Bay +1.5 (-260)
Moneyline: Avalanche -115/Lightning -105
Total: 6 (Under -125)
Betting Splits
Puck Line
84.2% of tickets on Colorado
94.9% of money on Colorado
Moneyline
53.4% of tickets on Colorado
71.5% of money on Colorado
Total
56.5% of tickets on Over
63.7% of money on Over
Injury Report
Colorado
Andre Burakovksy — Day-to-day (Hand)
Samuel Girard — Out
Tampa Bay
Brayden Point — Game-time decision (Lower body)
Prediction
Well, I might have been a bit premature in calling this series over.
Prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Final, I predicted Colorado would win in six games and recommended betting that handicap at WynnBET’s online sportsbook. But once the series started, I really thought the Avalanche would wrap things up in five games instead.
You can never quite count out the defending champs, especially when they are at home. Tampa Bay was down 3-2 to the Toronto Maples Leafs in the first round and faced a 0-2 deficit in the conference finals round. But it is extremely difficult to win three games while facing elimination in the biggest series of the postseason.
Teams that take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Cup Final are 35-1 (.972) winning the series. Colorado has made it too far to let this opportunity slip away. The Avs won't leave anything up to chance, and should take care of business tonight.
From a betting perspective, the under is more appealing even with the juice. There have been six or fewer goals scored in 12 of Tampa Bay’s last 16 games, including back-to-back contests in the Stanley Cup Final.
Prediction: Colorado 3, Tampa Bay 2
