Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
09 February 2023
Two of the best teams in the NHL are set to meet up on Thursday night as the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Colorado Avalanche. These two teams have been the class of the NHL over the last few years, but neither team has been quite as dominant this season.
Colorado comes into this game having dropped two of their last three games, and injuries have been the theme of the year for the Avalanche. The Avalanche are still sitting at 58 points on the year, and they are on track to get back to the playoffs.
Tampa Bay comes into this game with 66 points on the year, but they have dropped two games in a row. The Lightning are not going to be good enough to catch the Bruins in the division, but they should reach the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the moneyline betting favorites at -127 over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.
Avalanche Looking For Offense
The Colorado Avalanche are scoring just 3.02 goals per game this season, but they are capable of being much better on the offensive end of the ice. Colorado is scoring on the power play 24 percent of the time, but they have to find a way to be better when it’s five-on-five hockey.
Mikko Rantanen is leading the way with 34 goals this season, and Nathan MacKinnon has a team-high 41 assists. Those two players are going to show up, but they are also going to need some help.
Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has gone 20-11-3 so far this season, and the Avalanche have actually been a much better defensive team this season.
Lightning Great on Special Teams
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been impressive on special teams all season long, and that’s usually the mark of a great team. Tampa Bay has scored on the power play 26 percent of the time, and they have killed off 80 percent of their own penalties.
Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point are once again carrying this team on offense, but the Lightning are also able to win with a balanced attack. Kucherov is leading the team with 75 points, and Point has scored a team-high 31 goals.
Tampa Bay has allowed over three goals per game this season, and that’s something that will need to improve as the season moves along.
Avalanche Roll to Upset Win Over Lightning
There will be no surprises or tricks in this game, as the Avalanche and Lightning know each other extremely well. Both teams are loaded with stars on both offense and defense, and it should set up for a great battle on the ice.
Colorado has not been playing that well of late, but they still have the ability to break through the tough defense of the Lightning and score some goals. Tampa Bay is going to keep this game close on their home ice, but they just won’t have enough scoring to win this matchup.
Bet the Colorado Avalanche moneyline as they go into Tampa and knock off the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling game.
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All Media on this page by Associated Press.
