We have a great slate of NHL games tonight headlined by the marquee matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche. I breakdown that game and offer a few more picks. Let’s get into it!
For a complete list of the Odds tonight, where you can shop for the best lines, click the following link.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Colorado Avalanche
- Time: 9:00 PM ET
- TV Coverage: ESPN +
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 30-10-6, 2nd Atlantic (14-6-2 Away)
- Colorado Avalanche: 32-8-4, 1st Central (20-2-2 Home)
| Team | Opening ML | Current ML | Spread | Total |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +107 | -105 | +1.5 (-240) | o6.5 (+105) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -132 | -115 | -1.5 (+195) | u6.5 (-125) |
Trends:
- Tampa Bay are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado’s last 8 games.
- Colorado are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games.
Preview:
These teams have met once before this year, where Tampa Bay lost to Colorado 4-3 in a Shootout. Tampa Bay was a home favorite in that game closing at -120 with the Total being set at 6.0. In that game the Lightning went 0-3 on the PP with the Avalanche going 0-6 on the PP.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning return to the ice for the first time since the All-Star break. In their last game, they barely snuck past San Jose at home winning 3-2 in OT. They’ll now face a much better opponent tonight in the Colorado Avalanche.
Tampa Bay ranks 7th in Goals For Per game with an average of 3.37. However, in their last 10 games they’ve been exceeding that number averaging 3.70 Goals For. Their Power Play ranks 15th in the NHL but, has been better as of late. Nikita Kucherov, who runs their man advantage will return to the lineup tonight as he has exited COVID protocols.
In terms of defensive ability, Tampa Bay is giving up an average of 2.74 Goals Against per game. In their last 10 games, they’ve been better only giving up an average of 2.50. Their Penalty Kill ranks 13th and will have their work cut out for them tonight. Tampa has done a great job of limiting shots from their opponents and they’ll need to do the same tonight if they want to have a chance.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, fresh off an appearance in the All-Star game will get the start tonight. He won the Save Streak competition along with Jack Campbell. In his 36 games played this season he has a +17.4 Goals Saved Above Expected.
Colorado Avalanche
This will also be Colorado’s first game back since the All-Star break. In their last game before break their winning streak of 19 consecutive wins at home came to an end at the hands of the Arizona Coyotes of all teams.
Colorado has the best offensive in the NHL in terms of Goals For per game averaging 4.09. They’ve struggled a bit as of late only averaging 3.50 Goals For per game in their last 10. The Av’s rank 5th in Shots on Goal per game, averaging 35 and have the best shooting percentage. Having the best shooting percentage along with averaging 35 shots per game is a deadly combination that not many teams can compete with. Their Power Play ranks 7th converting at a rate of 25%. They’ll be without Nathan MacKinnon tonight who’s still recovering from an injury.
Defensively, Colorado is giving up an average of 2.91 Goals Against per game. They’ve been much stronger in their last 10 with an average of just 1.60. They do allow the 13th most Shots Against but Tampa doesn’t average a lot of Shots For so I don’t think that’s a major concern tonight. What is an area of concern tonight is their Penalty Kill which ranks 22nd. They also aren’t an extremely disciplined team so Tampa Bay should have several man advantage chances tonight.
Darcy Kuemper will get the start in net for Colorado tonight. He has a +9.9 GSAx on the year in his 31 games played.
Pick:
- VALERI NICHUSHKIN OVER 0.5 POINTS (-125) – DraftKings
- With MacKinnon out for tonight Nichushkin moves up to the top line with Landeskog and Rantanen. Rantanen and Landeskog are 2nd and 3rd on the team in points with Nichushkin ranking 9th. Playing with these two he’ll have more ice team and more chances to be involved offensively. In his last 6 games, he has 2 goals and 4 assists.
Other Picks For Today:
- TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS/ CALGARY FLAMES OVER 6.0 (-115) – DraftKings
- PITTSBURGH PENGUINS/ OTTAWA SENATORS OVER 6.0 (-125) – DraftKings
- ST. LOUIS BLUES IN REGULATION (-160) – DraftKings
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
