The Pepsi Center is the site for an enticing showdown as the Colorado Avalanche prepare to face the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. This East-West matchup will get underway at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 17 and it’s being televised live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Tampa Bay (-115) is favored over Colorado (-105), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-120 money on the over, +100 on the under).
Tampa Bay is 39-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.8 units this season. Through 59 regular season contests, 29 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Bolts are 19-11 SU as the road team in 2019-20.
Tampa Bay has converted on 23.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. Additionally, it has the sixth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over its last five total, and 3.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .921 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (32-12-3) has been the best option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. If it decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to Curtis McElhinney (7-8-2 record, .913 save percentage, 2.75 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov (72 points) has tallied 28 goals and 44 assists, and has recorded multiple points 22 times. Stamkos has 26 goals and 35 assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 37 games.
Colorado is 33-24 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 57 regular season outings, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 15-13 SU at home.
Colorado has converted on 19.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.2 percent of all penalties.
Colorado skaters have been sent to the penalty box 3.7 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Philipp Grubauer (27.1 saves per game) has been the primary selection in the crease for Colorado. Grubauer has 19 wins, 17 losses, and four OT losses to his name and has recorded a .916 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average this season.
The Avs offense will be led by Nathan MacKinnon (32 goals, 48 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone under in each of Colorado’s last five outings.
- Penalties and power plays may prove to be extremely important in tonight’s game. The Lightning are 13-7 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 24-11 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Avalanche are 18-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 24-11 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Colorado is ranked 10th in the league with 8.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as the team has created 6.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Tampa Bay has allowed 2.6 goals per game overall this year, but has given up only 1.6 per contest over the team’s 10-game winning streak.
- Tampa Bay is ranked 18th in the league this season with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as the team has managed 8.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Tampa Bay may hold an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 16-11 in one-goal games, while Colorado is 7-10 in such games.
