Stanley Cup Finals Preview – Game 2: Lightning is used to bouncing back, and they need it here
Last updated on December 10th, 2022 at 07:33 pm
BetOnline.ag customers might agree that if the Tampa Bay Lightning had just gotten off to a better start, they might have been able to steal one from the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.
As it is, now they have to regroup after losing Game 1 in such a disappointing fashion. They will line up for Game 2 at 8 PM ET on Saturday at the Ball Arena in Denver, with ABC televising.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was perceived to be giving the Lightning such an edge between the pipes, struggled early, allowing two goals, and truth be told, the defense in front of him was lacking. For much of the game, Tampa Bay looked a step slow in getting back against the rushes brought by Colorado’s defensemen. Let’s not forget that the Avs have Cale Makar, one of the NHL’s premier players and probably the most effective defenseman in the league at the offensive end of the ice (with apologies to the Rangers’ Adam Fox).
So what you had was the equivalent of an NBA fast break on too many occasions.
Vasilevskiy was under fire, having to field 38 shots on goal from a team that knows how to put the puck in the net. Nathan MacKinnon and his #1 line is lethal enough, and they were able to tear through Tampa Bay’s standout defensive forwards like Anthony Cirelli in creating an absurd 18-3 advantage in shot attempts while both units were on the ice in 5v5 situations. And then on Colorado’s second line, Valeri Nichushkin had six shots on goal, one of which found its way through. And Andre Burakovsky scored the winning goal just 83 seconds into the overtime period, just when people were thinking Tampa Bay might have steadied itself enough to snag one on the road.
According to online Bookie Software data, the preponderance of offensive chances created by the Avalanche is something to be very concerned about. In the Stanley Cup Finals odds for Game 2, as they are posted at BetOnline.ag, Colorado is the favorite once again, as expected:
Stanley Cups Finals Game 2 Odds – Lightning vs. Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche -150
Tampa Bay Lightning +130
Over 6 Goals -110
Under 6 Goals -110
And on the puck line….
Avalanche -1.5 Goals +170
Lightning +1.5 Goals -200
And don’t forget that while this game is in progress, you can stay right in the middle of the action with Premier Lines, Ultimate Lines and Super Lines!
So how do the Lightning turn things around? Well, they certainly have the stars and the experience to do it. If you are bringing out people like Nikita Kucherov (24 playoff points), Ondrej Palat (a goal scorer in Game 1), Steven Stamkos (nine playoff goals) and the great defenseman Victor Hedman, along with Vasilevskiy, who is a contender for both the Vezina and Conn Smythe trophies, then you are capable of winning any game you play. Let’s face it – you don’t win two Stanley Cups in a row, and put yourself in a position for a third, by laying down on the road.
But we’re thinking that if coach Jon Cooper is going to continue to send out his defensive line at the start to match up with MacKinnon line, they need to do a better job of helping keep pressure off Vasilevskiy.
Okay, we don’t necessarily have any empirical evidence to predict that the Tampa Bay power play, which has been unsuccessful in seven straight chances, will suddenly “get right,” other than to say that center Brayden Point, who came back from an injury and has been a part of that power play all season, played 18 minutes in Game 1 and might well be sharper on Saturday night.
Also, keep something real interesting in mind – in the process of mounting a playoff drive to win two straight Stanley Cups and advance to the finals this year, the Lightning have won 19 out of 20 games following a post-season loss. In a game where either side has a good case, that may be as solid a barometer as we can find. LIGHTNING
At BetOnline.ag , you won’t be left in the penalty box when it comes to wagering options on the Stanley Cup finals……. Find lots of alternate lines, as well as more angles when you open up Prop Builder……. And it’s always easy to open up an account, because you can use your credit card as well as Bitcoin, which is fast and easy and NEVER incurs a transaction fee!
and easy and NEVER incurs a transaction fee!