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Avalanche vs. Lightning Game 6 Betting Guide: Preview, Picks, Prop Bets & Parlay (2022)

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Check out our betting guide, preview, picks, prop bets, and parlay for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bet $10, Win $200 if Either Team Score a Goal >>

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Colorado Avalanche Game 6 Betting Preview

After successfully cashing on both the Lightning ML and the under in Game 5, I am going back to the well on each of those plays once again. In that game, the Lightning won 3-2 as Ondrej Palat played the hero and buried the game-winner with under seven minutes left to go in the third period.

Before that game, it felt like everyone on the internet already declared the Colorado Avalanche as your 2022 NHL Stanley Cup champions. As Tampa Bay showed in Game 5, the Lightning are just fine at handling adversity in a best-of-seven series.

Obviously, the Lightning would not be back-to-back world champions if they struggled with being down a few games in a playoff series. As they head back home, I expect Tampa Bay to win once again and force a Game 7.

The main reason that I am backing Tampa Bay to keep this series alive once again – outside of their extensive playoff experience – is goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Despite struggling through the first two games of this series, Vasilevskiy returned to his normal form in games three through five as he stopped 106 of 113 shot attempts for a stellar 0.934 save percentage.

The “big cat” is one of the best big-game performers of the last few decades, as he has been a rock in potential elimination games. I expect more of the same as he returns to Amalie Arena to play in front of his own fans.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 6: Top Stanley Cup Final Betting Odds & Picks

This game will be tight with conservative play from both sides. Everything will be on the line, and nobody wants to be the guy who takes a bad penalty or makes an overly-aggressive pinch that leads to an odd-man rush.

If the scoring remains low once again, I think it will work in Tampa Bay’s favor as it did in Game 5.

Best Bets: Tampa Bay Lightning ML (-105) & Under 6 (-115)

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 6 Bets: Top Stanley Cup Finals Parlay Odds & Picks

For starters, I’m backing the most influential player on the ice tonight. I feel comfortable saying Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best playoff goaltender that we’ve seen in years. The Russian-born netminder enters with a 2.54 GAA and 0.921 SV% over 22 games played this postseason. The chemistry that Vasilevskiy has with his defensemen is unparalleled in today’s game, and honestly, I think Tampa’s backend has been why they’ve made it this far into the playoffs. While the Lightning still boast plenty of talent up front, you can tell that they’ve really solidified their play in their own end and that’s what has carried them to the Stanley Cup. 

Whatever John Cooper hammered into the penalty killers’ heads on Thursday’s off day, it worked as the Bolts held the Avalanche to 0/2 on the man-advantage. It’s a major, major factor in this series as six out of Colorado’s 18 goals (33.3%) in the series have come via the power play. Look for Tampa Bay to stay out of the box as much as possible, and if they can’t, their kill will be ready. I like for the Lightning to keep a clean first period for the third straight game. Additionally, I’m expecting Vasilevskiy to put on another goaltending clinic and for this game to go under 6.5 goals. 

However, I think it’s too tall of a task to keep the Avalanche under two goals. They are the top-scoring team in the playoffs this postseason, averaging 4.4 goals per game. They haven’t been held under two goals in any game this series and are averaging 3.6 goals per game over the first five contests. On the flip side, I like for the Lightning’s crowd to propel their offense to finding the back of the net two-plus times. Darcy Kuemper has been serviceable this postseason, but not exceptional. He comes in with a 2.69 GAA and just a 0.898 SV% through 15 games played. 

There we have it! Good luck tonight and let’s hope for a game seven so we can watch these two elite hockey teams one last time. 

Parlay Odds: +650 via DraftKings

Avalanche vs. Lightning Game 6: Top Stanley Cup Final Prop Bet Odds & Picks

Cale Makar Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+116)

Following their 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning head back home and will look to force a Game 7. After successfully cashing on this prop in Game 3, Game 4, and Game 5, we are going back to the well once again with Colorado’s star defenseman Cale Makar’s shot total.

Makar continues to prove in this series that he is not only the best defenseman in the world but one of the best players in general. Not only did Makar go over this total in each of the last three games, but he has now gone over this number in eight of his last 11 playoff games (73%).

Colorado has controlled the series’ pace and offensive zone for the majority of this series, which obviously results in more shots on goal. Through the first five contests in this series, the Avalanche are averaging 36.2 shots on goal.

If this trend continues, Makar should be able to get over this total once again.

Valeri Nichushkin Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+136)

Following the same logic as above, I am backing another Colorado skater in this matchup as Valeri Nichushkin has gone over this total in four of the first five games of this series (80%). Nichushkin has undoubtedly been the “x-factor” for this club, especially in the games that Nazem Kadri was out of the lineup due to injury.

Coach Jared Bednar should continue to put Nichushkin out there as much as possible due to his excellent two-way play throughout this entire postseason. Skating on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, Nichushkin should have no difficulty in getting shot attempts as both of those guys are outstanding playmakers.

Additionally, Nichushkin skates with the second power play unit and serves as one of the primary triggermen in that group alongside Nazem Kadri. The attempts will be there, and if he is able to get them on net once again then Nichushkin should be able to get over this total.


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