Two teams that split their head-to-head series (one game apiece) a year ago, the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning face off at Amalie Arena for an East-West matchup. The match gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 7, and you can catch the game live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Colorado (+225) is playing the role of underdog to Tampa Bay (-265) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
Tampa Bay is 19-8 straight up (SU) and has earned 8.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. That win percentage, ranked first in the NHL so far in this young season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (42-40). Through 27 regular season matches, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team’s 11-3 SU at home.
The Lightning currently have the strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has scored on 28.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 13th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.8 percent of all penalties.
The Lightning, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five outings at home. The team has had to defend opposition power plays for just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
With a .932 save percentage and 30.6 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (18 wins, five losses, and one OT loss) has been the primary option in goal for the Bolts this year. If the Bolts decide to rest him, however, the team might go with Peter Budaj (1-3-3 record, .867 save percentage, 3.75 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue to lean on the offensive production via Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (40 points) has tallied 19 goals and 21 assists and has recorded multiple points 13 times this year. Stamkos has 11 goals and 27 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 19 contests.
Colorado is 12-14 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.5 units this season. A total of 16 of its matches have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team, the Avalanche are 4-8 SU so far.
The Avalanche have converted on 20.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s skaters have been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (28.7 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Colorado. Varlamov has eight wins, eight losses, and one overtime loss to his credit, while registering a .905 save percentage and 3.09 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will run through Nathan MacKinnon, who has 21 assists and 10 goals this year.
Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Tampa Bay is 1-1 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
Colorado has managed 30.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Tampa Bay has been attempting 36.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
