The Stanley Cup will be at Ball Arena Friday night as the Colorado Avalanche try to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning to clinch their third consecutive championship. It will be difficult to finish off the two-time defending champions. However, the Lightning must forget about Game 4’s controversial OT goal. If they want to send the series to Game 6, they will need to forget about Game 4.
You can watch the action live on ABC, ESPN+, and the ESPN App. 8 p.m. EDTESPN+ offers live stats and bonus camera angles.
Caesars Sportsbook: All odds below.
Stanley Cup Final Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche
Puck line: Colorado -1.5
Money line Tampa Bay (+150), Colorado (-170)
Total: 6
Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: Tampa Bay Lightning UNDER 2.5 goals (-115)
With home ice and the final line change, only two goals were scored by the Lightning in Game 4. This does not bode well in Game 5 in Denver. The Avalanche averaged 1.67 goals against in all situations in Game 1 — the Lightning scored three goals. Darcy KuemperThis was the first game in more than two weeks. In Game 2, the average goal rate per 60 minutes was 1.09. Nathan MacKinnon can be thrown out by the Avalanche against the Steven Stamkos trio and pin the Lightning’s top line in their zone. Nazem KadriThe Avalanche have a stronger second team with Kuemper’s return. Kuemper is performing well, and 13 of 14 power play attempts have been stopped by the Avalanche. It’s hard to see the Lightning scoring more goals than the Avalanche if they aren’t made for this moment.
Wyshynski: Nathan MacKinnon Over 4.5 shots (-135)
Sometimes, you just have to play the stats. MacKinnon’s totals have exceeded these in six out of nine postseason home games. He’s averaging nearly 24 shot attempts per minute at 5-on-5 in nine home games. Sometimes, you just have to play the situation. MacKinnon waited nine years in NHL, and many decades for the chance to win the Stanley Cup. He is just one win away. In both Tampa games, he was ahead of this total. He will give it his all in Game 5 to have a chance at glory.
2:30
Kevin Weekes joins SVP as he breaks down Colorado’s remarkable comeback win over the Lightning in Game 4.
Sachin Dave Chandan is an ESPN betting editor. Second period, highest scoring period (+260).
Multiple goals were scored in each game’s second period. The second period is the most scoring due to the lengthy change. However, this time, I think you are getting a great deal from Caesars at +260. There is a higher than normal chance of empty-netters in third period, as the Lightning would be playing for the series lives if they were trailing in third.