The Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves in a familiar place after Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Colorado Avalanche. The Bolts are behind in another playoff series. It’s an odd trend for a team that has won its last 11 playoff series, but the Lightning are only 6-6 in Game 1 throughout this run, including this Stanley Cup Final. The Avalanche are still favorites (-160) for Game 2 at home and the over/under is set at six goals.
Saturday will be an adaptation game for both teams. Can the Avalanche get Nathan MacKinnon going? How will the flash react? Will Andrei Vasilevskiy react after giving up two soft goals in the first period? If Game 2 is anything like Game 1, then as hockey fans we’re just cheering for this game to be seven games.
When is Avalanche vs Lightning Game 2?
8 p.m. ET on Saturday
Where to watch and stream Avalanche vs Lightning?
Channels: ABC, CBC, SN
Stream: ESPN+, SN now
Schedule for the Stanley Cup Finals
Game 1: Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 – OT | Avalanche leads 1-0
Game 2: Lightning in avalanche | Saturday June 18 | 8 p.m. ET
Game 3: Avalanche at Lightning | Monday 20 June | 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: Avalanche at Lightning | Wednesday 22 June | 8 p.m. ET
Game 5*: Lightning in avalanche | Friday June 24 | 8 p.m. ET
Game 6*: Avalanche at Lightning | Sunday June 26 | 8 p.m. ET
Game 7*: Lightning in avalanche | Tuesday 28 June | 8 p.m. ET
Each day during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, The Athletic writers will make their selections head-on. We’ve put our picks, TV schedule and all series coverage, and the latest ratings in one place for fans to easily digest and follow. Our in-depth NHL coverage is linked under Tips. For live NHL odds from BetMGM click here.
What are the odds for Lightning at Avalanche Game 2?
| team | money line | In total |
|---|---|---|
|
+125 |
O6 (-110) |
|
|
-150 |
U6 (-110) |
Series quotas: Avalanche -275, Lightning +225
Avalanche vs Lightning Match 2 Preview
Sometime late in the second half of Game 1, when a linesman picked up a puck for a faceoff, Colorado coach Jared Bednar stuck a finger under his shirt collar and, like a comedian after a joke bomb, tugged at it, releasing the puck into steam. The heat was on.
His Avalanche, so heated and dominant from the first puck drop, had seen a 3-1 lead turn into a tie. Tampa Bay, looking tired and sluggish to begin with, had effectively slowed the game to a more favorable pace. And the Blitz had taken control not only of the score, but of the win. “Everyone flew,” said goaltender Darcy Kuemper of Colorado.
What has changed? “The TV break,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “We need to catch our breath”
The Stanley Cup Finals officially began around 6 p.m. local time in Denver. But the cup really got going in the third third. At this point, the Avs and Bolts were both tip-top and in overdrive. It was great hockey.
“We knew there would be momentum swings,” Kuemper said. “There will be ups and downs for us. And we have to stay as balanced as possible.”
Game 2 offers more of the same. Wednesday’s third third was an indicator of how this series will play out, more of a back-and-forth, with bursts of speed from Colorado followed by smart moves from Tampa Bay. Each team tapped their hand. countermovements are coming. Then counters at the counters.
But the Avalanche can always rip off a flash of puck movement for a whiplash goal, as they did in overtime. And always Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy will be there to stand on his head and shut down a whole period like he did in the third. Even Kuemper admitted that Vasy remains ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’.
Nothing about the Avs’ win in Game 1 was fortunate or undeserved. “The right team won the game,” Cooper said. “But we have better things in us. I don’t think by a long shot that we gave them our best game. And we had one more chance to pull it out.
He’s right. The avalanche jumped out of the gate. The flash caught up quickly. We will certainly see more overtime.
Historically, teams that win Game 1 have a record of 62-20 in seven-game cup finals. Even better if they win the first game at home 49-10. That’s better than 80 percent.
But the Stanley Cup doesn’t always see such a balanced series at such a high level as this final with these two teams.
“That’s what makes Best of Seven so great,” Cooper said. “In the end the players know each other so well and the art of the game happens.”
Avalanche vs Lightning Expert Tips and Predictions for Game 2
| writer | Choose |
|---|---|
|
Jesse Granger |
|
|
Sean McIndoe |
|
|
Shayna Goldman |
|
|
House of Luszczyszyn |
|
|
Kevin Kurz |
|
|
sean child |
Expert selects records
| WRITER | RECORDING |
|---|---|
|
Jesse Granger |
52-31 |
|
Sean McIndoe |
51-32 |
|
sean child |
46-37 |
|
House of Luszczyszyn |
45-38 |
|
Shayna Goldman |
45-38 |
|
Kevin Kurz |
40-43 |
More coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs: News | Podcasts | opportunities
(Photo by Cale Makar and Anthony Cirelli: Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)
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