Stanley Cup Finals Picks -- Game 3: Are there any answers available for Tampa Bay?

  • In Charles Jay
  • Mon, Jun 20th, 2022 2:19:33 pm
  • By Charles Jay - Exclusive to OSGA


The Colorado Avalanche have a chance to jump out to an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.


If you were watching Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and you were a BetOnline patron who wagered on the Tampa Bay Lightning, what you experienced was most likely one of the ore revolting things you've seen in a long time.

After losing Game 1 in overtime, following a valiant comeback, the Lightning essentially laid down on Saturday night, once again allowing early goals, but in addition to that, goals throughout the game. The Colorado Avalanche scored every which away. They scored at even strength. They scored on the power play. They scored short-handed.

It was an outright humiliation. And it was the kind of thing were the level of domination was such that it could even be emasculating.

The Bolts are outwardly talking about coming out in front of the home crowd and launching a comeback like they did after going down two games to none to the Rangers. But in their heart of hearts, you'd have to wonder whether they realize they have come across a team that is superior.

We can say that after affording Tampa Bay a chance to win Game 2, we were convinced that there is no answer the Lightning have readily at their disposal.

And that is the scenario we have in front of us as we enter Game 3, slated for 8:15 PM ET at the Amalie Arena in Tampa.

These are the Stanley Cup Finals odds as they are currently posted at BetOnline:

Tampa Bay Lightning -117
Colorado Avalanche +108

Under 6 Goals -130
Over 6 Goals +118

And on the puck line.....

Lightning -1.5 Goals +210
Avalanche +1.5 Goals -250

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It was perceived that there was a considerable advantage in goal for the Lightning in the series, owing to Andrei Vasilevskiy's reputation and performance in postseason situations, where he had a 2.27 goals-against and .925 save percentage.

Well, at least until this series. He has looked bewildered through the first two games, as Tampa Bay has been behind the eight-ball early. Darcy Kuemper has had more success for Colorado, but that doesn't necessarily tell the whole story.

The Lightning just aren't defending. There is simply no excuse for giving up 15 of the first 16 shots of a game, as was the case in Game 2. There is no excuse for allowing 68 shots on goal in two games. There is no excuse for allowing Colorado forwards to be within short striking distance to the net. There is no excuse for allowing one odd-man rush after another.

No excuses, but probably a reason - what the Avs have put forth has been far too superior for the Bolts to contend with.

If you've got a 67.4% Corsi figure, you are superior. There are no two ways about it. Colorado scored short-handed; they have looked like they were on the power play even when the teams were at even strength.

We do admit that there are reasons to go with Tampa Bay here. They are coming back home, and they coming off a humiliating beatdown.

There is a big difference between the way Vasilevskiy has performed at home and on the road in the playoffs. On the road, his GAA and save percentage are 3.29 and .896, respectively, while at home those numbers are 1.69 and .947.

And of course, we know what the effect of a hot goaltender can be.

But that goaltender came into this series hot, and he has been overwhelmed by the preponderance of firepower offered by the Avs.

On general principles alone, you have to take a look a team that has demonstrated fundamental superiority, particularly when they have won all seven road games in the playoffs (14-2 overall), and almost doubled their opponents' score in those games (38-20).

If you like the Lightning and feel that Vasilevskiy will carry them here, going "under" on the total might be worth considering. We're going to stick with the better team here, and at this price, we're actually kind of happy. A small play on an alternate line might be worth exploring as well, as you can get +215 on the Avalanche minus a goal and a half.


BetOnline truly delivers when it comes to all the possibilities for Stanley Cup betting. Between the props and live betting, they have you covered in every way possible........ And remembers that Odds Boosters offers explosive payouts for pre-selected parlays, every day of the week....... And if you want to talk about possibilities, there are so many ways to make a deposit, with every cryptocurrency imaginable!




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