Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche Game 5 Betting Preview/Prop Picks

Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals is set for Friday night between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche. This will actually be the first elimination game of the series as Colorado can win the title with a win.

Tampa Bay came into this series looking for their third straight Stanley Cup title, but it appears that their luck is running out. The Lightning are good enough to make a run, but they now have to win three straight games. 

Colorado has only lost three total games during the postseason, and they are on the brink of winning a title. This Avalanche team has been nearly unbeatable at home, and they are looking to close the series out. 

The Colorado Avalanche are the moneyline betting favorites at -177 over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Lightning Have to Score

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a solid defensive team over the last few seasons, but it’s going to take offense to win this series. Tampa Bay has shown some offensive talent at times against the Avalanche, but it just hasn’t been good enough all time.

Tampa Bay believes that they were cheated out of the lead in Game Four, and that could provide some extra inspiration in Game Five. The Lightning have now lost two games in this series in overtime, and that shows just how close they are.

The Lightning just don’t have enough offense to win the Stanley Cup Finals over the Colorado Avalanche, and they need to win this game with some defense. 

Avs Can Get Stops

The Colorado Avalanche have so much offensive talent, but they have also been dominant on the defensive side of the ice this season. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been way better than expected this year, and he can get his team to a title. 

Kuemper already has a shutout in this series, and he was also terrific in the Game Four win. It’s almost not fair to play the Avalanche when they aren’t giving up goals. 

Nazem Kadri came back to the lineup with a bang on Wednesday night, and he joins an offense that is nearly unstoppable. Colorado is good enough to score on every line, and they usually have in this series. 

Avalanche Roll to Stanley Cup Title

The Lightning appeared to do all that they could do in the two games in Tampa Bay, but they still just picked up one win. Tampa Bay was one goal away from evening up the series, but they just haven’t been able to even things up.

Tampa Bay has started to make things interesting after Game Two, but they just aren’t good enough to beat the Avalanche. Colorado has taken complete control of this series, and that will be the key again in this series. 

The Lightning are looking for their third straight title, but it’s simply not going to happen this year. Take the Colorado Avalanche -177 over the Tampa Bay Lightning as they win Game Five and also win the Stanley Cup Finals.

Prop Picks

Colorado (-105) OVER 3.5 Goals

Colorado is averaging 3.8 goals per game on offense, which ranks No. 4 in the league, while converting 24.0 percent of its power plays, which ranks No. 7. Scores have gone OVER in four of the Avalanche’s last five home games.

With Dunkel predicting a Colorado home victory by the score of 4-3, take the Avalanche (-105) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 3.5 goals against Tampa Bay.

Darcy Kuemper (-110) UNDER 25.5 Saves

Kuemper faced 30.771 shots per game in 57 games during the regular season. That average has dropped to 23.857 shots per game in 14 postseason games.

With Dunkel predicting a Colorado win, look for the Avalanche defense to continue to limit shot attempts and take Kuemper (-110) to finish UNDER 25.5 saves versus the Lightning.

Keep up with your latest NHL news coverage and betting pick previews at The Dunkel Index.

All Media on this page by Associated Press.