While Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final between Colorado and Tampa Bay could have gone either way, Game 2 was a historic rout for the Avalanche to take a 2-0 series lead over the two-time defending champion Lightning. Game 3 is tonight at 8 p.m. ET in Tampa and basically a pick'em at Caesars Sportsbook with a total of 6 goals. Bettors at Caesars Sportsbook have heavy leans on both. Click here for expert picks.
In the shocking 7-0 victory in Game 2, the Avalanche won their seventh straight game and became the third team in NHL history to register a shutout in the Stanley Cup Final by a margin of seven or more goals. It was the biggest playoff margin of defeat in Lightning history. Since 2020, they had been 9-2 in the second games of series, allowing just 1.91 goals against per game.
After that performance,'it's perhaps not a surprise that 66 percent of the money on the moneyline tonight is on the Avalanche and 64 percent of tickets. Both games have totaled 7 goals, and 73 percent of tickets and 65 percent of money are on the over 6.0. This writer is a bit surprised the books haven't adjusted the total to 6.5.
Colorado is on a seven-game road winning streak, tied for the second longest in playoff history behind only the 2012 Kings (10-0). Tampa Bay is on a seven-game home winning streak, a franchise playoff record. This will be the first game in Stanley Cup Final history between clubs on active home a nd road winning streaks each of at least seven games. The home team has won each of the first three games in a Stanley Cup Final only 24 times, most recently in 2017 (Penguins-Predators). Home teams have won 53 of 85 games played this postseason (62 percent).