The Tampa Bay Lighting kept their season alive on Friday, picking up an essential 3-2 win in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche in a do-or-die Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.  Now trailing 3-2 in the series, the Bolts will look to force a deciding Game 7 when they host Colorado for Game 6 on Sunday night.

The Avalanche are -120 favourites to win Game 6, while the total is 6.0 on the NHL odds.

Avalanche vs. Lightning NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

For the second straight game in the Stanley Cup Final, the road team walked away with a 3-2 victory on Friday.  It’s been a closer series than some people realize as each has one blowout win, while the other three games were decided by a single goal.  After Games 1, 2 and 3 hit the Over, the total went Under in Games 4 and 5.

Colorado will need to lean on their successful road experience throughout these playoffs as they head to Amalie Arena with an 8-1 record outside of Denver in the post-season.  Five of their last six games in Tampa Bay have hit the Over, but that will be tough to replicate again, as Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy looks dialled in.  The Avalanche sat as high as -1667 favourites to win the series prior to Game 5, but that number has dropped to -455 as they head to Game 6.

Tampa Bay has thrived in nine home playoff games this year, with their lone loss at Amalie Arena coming in Game 4 of this series.  The total has gone Under in 12 of their last 16 games, which is likely how they’d like things to go in Game 6.  The Lightning improved from +684 series underdogs before Game 5, to +304 entering Game 6.

The favoured exact series score is Colorado ending things on Sunday at -116, followed by an Avalanche win in seven games at +214.  Tampa completing the comeback to win this series is +319.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche blew a chance to end this series on Friday, so it will be interesting to see if that loss becomes more of a wakeup call, or starts to sow some seeds of doubt.  Colorado outshot the Lightning in all three periods and 37-29 in the game, but a couple soft goals allowed, combined with a strong performance from Vasilevskiy in the Tampa Bay net was the difference.  Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar each finished the night with a goal and an assist, while Darcy Kuemper made 26 saves in net.  A late too-may-players penalty with under three minutes to play all but ended the Avs’ shot at forcing overtime.

All eyes in Colorado are shifting to the status of Andre Burakovsky for Game 6.  There was a thought that Burakovsky might return for Game 5 and while he practiced in a full-contact jersey and warmed up, he ultimately missed a third straight game with a hand injury.  Burakovsky, who scored the OT winner in Game 1, travelled with the team ahead of Game 6 and is listed as a possibility to play.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning won’t go down easy and they proved that with Friday’s Game 5 victory.  Jan Rutta opened the scoring in the first period, Nikita Kucherov found the back of the net on the power-play in the second and Ondrej Palat scored the winning goal with a little more than six minutes remaining in the game.  Vasilevskiy made 35 saves in net.  Tampa Bay was just 1-for-16 on the power-play in this series before Kucherov’s goal.

Trailing in a series isn’t new for this Tampa Bay team as they were down 3-2 against Toronto in the first-round and down 2-0 against New York in the Eastern Conference Final.  Plenty of Bolts players look banged up right now, with Brayden Point‘s injury looking the most serious.  Point has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury suffered in Game 7 of the first-round.  He also missed the full series’ against Florida and New York.  Point, who has been a staple of the Lightning’s last two Stanley Cup runs, is listed as questionable for Game 6, but it’s unlikely he’ll play.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Lightning?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

TB

Points	Steven Stamkos 106
+ / -	Victor Hedman 26
Shots	Steven Stamkos 241
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 134
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 39
GAA	Brian Elliott 2.43

COL

Points	Cale Makar 29
+ / -	Bowen Byram 15
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 117
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 20
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 10
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.57

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 27
+ / -	Ondrej Palat 10
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 77
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 32
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 14
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.52

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lightning Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

TB

Points	Steven Stamkos 106
+ / -	Victor Hedman 26
Shots	Steven Stamkos 241
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 134
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 39
GAA	Brian Elliott 2.43

COL

Points	Cale Makar 29
+ / -	Bowen Byram 15
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 117
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 20
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 10
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.57

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 27
+ / -	Ondrej Palat 10
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 77
Penalty Mins	Pat Maroon 32
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 14
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.52

Injuries

Colorado

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 26 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Ques Tues Hand - 19 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Prob Wed Lower Body - 12 / 06 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Sat Hand - 07 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Ques Mon Leg - 02 / 06 / 22

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Ques Mon Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 22

Gabriel Landeskog (LW)

Prob Tues Knee - 30 / 05 / 22

Samuel Girard (D)

out for season Chest - 21 / 05 / 22

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Prob Tues Eye - 07 / 05 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Tampa Bay

Erik Cernak (D)

Prob Fri Lower Body - 23 / 06 / 22

Anthony Cirelli (C)

Prob Fri Arm - 23 / 06 / 22

Nicholas Paul (LW)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 22 / 06 / 22

Nikita Kucherov (RW)

Prob Wed Lower Body - 21 / 06 / 22

Brayden Point (C)

Ques Tues Leg - 20 / 06 / 22

Brandon Hagel (LW)

Ques Wed Flu - 15 / 06 / 22

Ryan McDonagh (D)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 10 / 06 / 22

Corey Perry (RW)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 07 / 06 / 22

Brandon Hagel (LW)

Prob Wed Foot - 29 / 05 / 22

Brandon Hagel (LW)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 19 / 05 / 22

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 26 / 06 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Nichushkin is tending to a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Lighting in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Ques Tues	Hand - 19 / 06 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Burakovsky is dealing with a hand injury, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Prob Wed	Lower Body - 12 / 06 / 22	2-4	4-2	+ -
Burakovsky is battling a lower-back injury, but it is anticipated that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Lightning.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Sat	Hand - 07 / 06 / 22	2-4	4-2	+ -
Cogliano is managing a hand injury, but it is likely that he will participate in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Lightning.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Ques Mon	Leg - 02 / 06 / 22	5-4	5-4	+ -
Burakovsky is bothered by right leg injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will face the Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Ques Mon	Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 22	5-5	5-5	+ -
Kuemper is tending to an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals versus the Oilers.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW)	Prob Tues	Knee - 30 / 05 / 22	5-5	5-5	+ -
Landeskog is expected to lace up for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Oilers despite a knee issue.
Samuel Girard (D)	out for season	Chest - 21 / 05 / 22	7-7	8-6	+ -
Girard suffered a fractured sternum and will miss the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Prob Tues	Eye - 07 / 05 / 22	9-9	10-8	+ -
Kuemper is tending to a eye injury, but it is likely that he will be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22	10-10	11-9	+ -
Cogliano is managing an upper-body issue, but it is expected that he will be available against the Blues for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Erik Cernak (D)	Prob Fri	Lower Body - 23 / 06 / 22	1-1	0-2	+ -
Cernak is nursing a lower-body ailment, but it is projected that he will face the Avalanche in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Anthony Cirelli (C)	Prob Fri	Arm - 23 / 06 / 22	1-1	0-2	+ -
Cirelli is dealing with an arm injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Avalanche.
Nicholas Paul (LW)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 22 / 06 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Paul is managing an unspecified issue, but he is expected to lace up for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Avalanche.
Nikita Kucherov (RW)	Prob Wed	Lower Body - 21 / 06 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Kucherov is nursing a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Avalanche in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Brayden Point (C)	Ques Tues	Leg - 20 / 06 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Point is battling a right leg injury, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Avalanche.
Brandon Hagel (LW)	Ques Wed	Flu - 15 / 06 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Hagel is bothered by flu-like symptoms, and it is uncertain if he will lace up against the Avalanche in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Ryan McDonagh (D)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 10 / 06 / 22	4-3	3-4	+ -
McDonagh is tending to an unknown injury, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Rangers.
Corey Perry (RW)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 07 / 06 / 22	5-4	3-6	+ -
Perry is managing an unknown issue, and it is unclear if he will face the Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Brandon Hagel (LW)	Prob Wed	Foot - 29 / 05 / 22	6-6	4-8	+ -
Hagel is dealing with a foot injury, but it is projected that he will be active against the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Brandon Hagel (LW)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 19 / 05 / 22	9-6	4-11	+ -
Hagel is dealing with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear if he will lace up against the Panthers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round.