The 2022 Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday as the Colorado Avalanche host the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1. Tampa Bay became the first time to reach the Final three straight times since Edmonton accomplished the feat from 1983-85 by defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern Conference final. Colorado has been idle since June 6, when it completed a four-game sweep of the Oilers with a 6-5 overtime triumph in the Western Conference final.
Puck drop at Ball Arena in Denver is set for 8 p.m. ET. Colorado is listed as the -150 favorite (risk $150 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Avalanche vs. Lightning odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Tampa Bay is a +130 underdog. The over/under for goals is set at six (see the latest lines for every game on our NHL odds page).
Before making any Lightning vs. Avalanche picks, you NEED to see the latest NHL predictions from the SportsLine hockey insider Matt Severance.
Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. He's SportsLine's top NHL handicapper, going 134-71-4 in his last 209 NHL picks and returning well over $2,700 for $100 players. Anyone who has followed him is WAY UP.