Either the Tampa Bay Lightning will make history or the Colorado Avalanche will end a 21-year title drought as the teams battle in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Avalanche advanced to the final for the first time since 2001. The Lightning advanced to the final for the third consecutive season.
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The Lightning, who joined the NHL in 1992, are seeking their fourth Cup (Tampa Bay won its first title in 2004).
The Avs — previously the Quebec Nordiques — have twice won the Cup (1996, 2001).
STANLEY CUP WINNER ODDS
Avalanche -303 (bet $10 to win $13.30 total) | Lightning +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
UPCOMING GAME
Avalanche @ Lightning (8 p.m. ET Monday, ABC/CBC; Game 3; Avalanche lead series 2-0)
Point spread: No line available
Moneyline: No line available
Total scoring over/under: No line available
COMPLETED GAMES
Avalanche 7, Lightning 0
Point spread: Avalanche (-1.5) cover by winning by more than 1.5 goals (7)
Moneyline: Avalanche win as -149 favorites (bet $10 to win $16.71 total); Lightning were +115 underdogs (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: Over 5.5 goals scored by both teams combined (7)
NOTES: The Avalanche are the fifth team to start the Stanley Cup playoffs 14-2. … Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed seven goals in a playoff game for the first time.
Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 (OT)
Point spread: Lightning (+1.5) cover by losing by fewer than 1.5 goals (1)
Moneyline: Avalanche win as -149 favorites (bet $10 to win $16.71 total); Lightning were +115 underdogs (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: Over 6 goals scored by both teams combined (7)
NOTES: Andre Burakovsky scored on assists from Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher 1:23 into OT to win it for Colorado. … Teams that win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in OT are 14-4 in the series. … The Avalanche improved to 13-2 this postseason.
Here is the schedule for the Stanley Cup Final (all games 8 p.m. ET, ABC and CBC):
June 15, Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 (OT)
Saturday, Lightning @ Avalanche
Monday, Avalanche @ Lightning
Wednesday, Avalanche @ Lightning
June 24, Lightning @ Avalanche *
June 26, Avalanche @ Lightning *
June 28, Lightning @ Avalanche *
* = if necessary
FOX Bet associate trader Steven Hemke describes the final as a “dream matchup” between the two-time defending champion Lightning and the Western Conference points leader Avalanche.
“These teams really have no recent history in the playoffs which should set up for great action for the books on both sides,” Hemke said.
Hemke likes the final experience and goaltending of Tampa Bay, which will get a boost by the return of center Brayden Point, who sat out the conference finals with a lower-body injury. Point scored the Cup-clinching goal during the 2020 playoffs.
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov is the leading playoff scorer among the teams with 23 points.
The high-flying Avalanche, featuring Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen – all top 10 draft picks – are averaging a postseason-best 4.64 goals per game.
But goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy gives the edge to the Lightning, Hemke said. Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy (top goalie) in 2019 and the Conn Smythe Trophy (Stanley Cup MVP) last season.
PICK: Lightning to win series outright (+145 at FOX Bet at time of pick, bet $10 to win $24.50 total)
LONG-SHOT PICK: Lightning to win series in six games (+600 at FOX Bet at time of pick, bet $10 to win $70 total)
PICK: Andrei Vasilevskiy to win Conn Smythe Trophy (+400 at FOX Bet at time of pick, bet $10 to win $50 total)
LONG-SHOT PICK: Lightning captain Steven Stamkos to win Conn Smythe Trophy (+1500 at FOX Bet at time of pick, bet $10 to win $160 total)
So who are you betting to hoist the Stanley Cup? Head over to FOX Bet and place your bets!
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