Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions
The Tampa Bay Lightning (10-6-5) take on the Colorado Avalanche (14-6-0) Monday at Ball Arena. Puck drop is set for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Lightning vs. Avalanche odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Lightning have restored order as their MVP, G Andrei Vasilevskiy, has returned from offseason back surgery. How did they celebrate? They smoked the Carolina Hurricanes 8-2 Friday night. C Brayden Point had a hat trick in the game.
Colorado took care of the Calgary Flames 3-1 Saturday. Backup tendy Ivan Prosvetov was great between the pipes, surrendering 1 goal on 30 shots. The Avs have won 3 in a row and are 7-2-0 at home. D Cale Makar leads the team with 30 points (5 goals, 25 assists) in 20 games.
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Lightning at Avalanche odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.
Lightning at Avalanche projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .917 SV%) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (12-5-0, 2.95 GAA, .892 SV%, 1 SO)
“Vasy” stopped 22 of 24 shots he saw in his season debut against the Canes. It was a good building block for this matchup, and his feet will be to the fire. He was 2-0-0 against Colorado last season and stopped 73 of the 76 shots fired his way. His endurance in the altitude will be tested in this one.
Georgiev has been solid in his last 2 starts, stopping 19 of 21 shots against Minnesota Friday and 27 of 29 against Vancouver Wednesday. He was 0-1-1 against Tampa Bay last season and allowed 6 goals on 42 shots.
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Lightning at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 3, Lightning 2
The Avs are really tough at home at 7-2-0. The Lightning could suffer a hangover from the collective sigh of relief of getting their stud back in net. Tampa won both meetings last season, but it’s hard to expect peak Vasilevskiy form.
Take the AVALANCHE -145.
I don’t like either side of the puck line here.
PASS.
Both teams are 11-8 O/U this season. One meeting went Over, and 1 went Under last season. I look for a defensive struggle here. The Avs are tied for 10th with 2.9 goals allowed per game, and each team has a top-10 penalty kill. Take the UNDER 6.5 (-110) with this one possibly needing extra time.
