Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions October 30th 2024

Lightning, Avs out to boost special teams ahead of matchup

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Lightning versus the Avalanche? The puck drops at 9:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver, CO. The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Avalanche as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals.

Tampa Bay vs. Colorado Key Information

• Teams: Lightning at Avalanche
• Where: Ball Arena Denver
• Date: Wednesday, October 30th
• Betting Odds COL -117 | TB -103 O/U 6.5

The Lightning Can Win If…

Tampa Bay improved to 6-3-0 with a 3-2 overtime win against the Predators. The Lightning were favored on the puck line, but didn’t cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 5 fell short of that mark.

The Lightning jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Nashville responded with two goals in the second. Nick Paul scored the game-winner at 3:22 in overtime.

Tampa Bay’s offense took 27 shots on goal in their 3-2 win over Nashville. The Lightning scored twice in the first period, with Brayden Point netting his 6th goal of the season and Mitchell Chaffee adding his 3rd. Nick Paul secured the win with his 3rd goal, coming 3:22 into overtime.

Jake Guentzel contributed with two assists, bringing his total to 7 for the season. The Lightning had 10 giveaways in the game and were held scoreless in the second and third periods before Paul’s overtime winner.

Defensively, the Lightning will look to improve after allowing two goals in their last game, both of which came in the second period. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage, helping Tampa Bay secure a 3-2 win in overtime. The Lightning’s defense also recorded 13 hits and 1 takeaway.

• Tampa Bay will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 0-2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Tampa Bay has a record of 6-4. Against the spread, Tampa Bay went 4-6 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Avalanche Can Win If…

With a 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks, the Avalanche fell to 5-5-0 this season. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 7 surpassed that mark. Colorado, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line.

All of the Avalanche’s scoring came in the first period, but they also allowed three goals in that frame. The Blackhawks added two more goals in the third period, both of which were empty-netters.

Casey Mittelstadt netted his 6th goal of the season for the Avalanche, while Nathan MacKinnon added his 5th, scoring on his only shot of the game. MacKinnon’s goal came on a power play, marking his 5th goal of the season. Mittelstadt found the net 10:16 into the first period, with Logan O’Connor picking up his first assist and Sam Malinski earning his 3rd.

Colorado took 26 shots on goal but struggled with giveaways, committing 17. After scoring twice in the first period, the Avalanche were held scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Defensively, the Avalanche gave up the first goal to Chicago and allowed three in the first period. After a scoreless second, they conceded two more late in the third, both empty-netters. Alexandar Georgiev made 21 saves with a save percentage of 87.5%, while the defense added 8 takeaways and 19 hits.

• The Avalanche have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is less impressive at 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 2-1.
• The Avalanche have gone 5-5 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 2-8 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Lightning to come out with a win against the Avalanche while playing on the road. Considering the moneyline odds at -103, I’m placing my bet on the Lightning to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Lightning winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Lightning straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

The Colorado Avalanche are focused on rebounding from two disappointing games, culminating in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night. They look to reset their momentum as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, aiming to close out their three-game homestand in Denver with a statement win.

NHL picks for today

Avalanche’s Rollercoaster Start and Injury Woes

After a rocky 0-4-0 start, the Avalanche seemed to find their groove with five straight wins, displaying a potent offense and cohesive team play. However, a lackluster performance against Chicago brought their streak to an abrupt halt. Adding to their difficulties, top scorer Ross Colton left the game with a leg injury after blocking a shot in the first period. Coach Jared Bednar hinted that Colton could be out for a while: “He’s going to miss some time… we’ll get a better feel on how long (Tuesday) or by Wednesday morning.”

With Colton’s absence, Colorado faces another challenge in filling critical offensive gaps, particularly since forwards Artturi Lehkonen, Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, and Jonathan Drouin are also sidelined. To sustain their offense, the Avalanche are counting on stars Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, who have been prolific in the season’s opening stretch. Both players have scored at least a point in each of the first 10 games, with Makar amassing 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and MacKinnon notching 16 (five goals, 11 assists).

The Drive to Regain Form

Head coach Bednar was candid about his team’s recent performances, acknowledging that the Avalanche need to raise their level of play. “It wasn’t our best game. We needed to be better, and we weren’t,” he commented following Monday’s loss. While Colorado managed to secure a win in the first of these two subpar games, their lapse against Chicago made it clear that consistency is key to sustaining their early-season recovery.

Tampa Bay Lightning’s High Hopes and Current Struggles

Tampa Bay arrives in Denver after an emotional 3-2 overtime victory against Nashville on Monday night. The game served as a tribute to longtime Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who spent 16 years with the team before signing with the Predators in the offseason. While Tampa Bay celebrated Stamkos, their focus quickly shifted back to addressing on-ice challenges, particularly the need for a full 60-minute effort.

“We have to be more consistent over 60 minutes,” remarked Lightning captain Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay’s recent struggles include inconsistency on special teams, particularly their power play, which was one of the NHL’s best last season but is currently only 5-for-31. Additionally, their penalty kill sits near the bottom of the league, ranking 28th at 71.9%. This could be problematic against Colorado’s third-ranked power play, which boasts a 36.4% success rate even without four key players.

Key Matchups and the Battle on Special Teams

For Colorado, the offensive load will rely heavily on the dependable play of Makar and MacKinnon, who have stepped up amid injuries to other forwards. MacKinnon’s speed and Makar’s agility and vision on the ice make them dual threats capable of breaking through even Tampa Bay’s most steadfast defensive strategies. On Tampa Bay’s side, Hedman’s defensive prowess will be crucial in containing the Avalanche’s high-octane offense, especially during Colorado’s power-play opportunities.

Conclusion: A Critical Game for Both Teams

This mid-season game offers both teams an opportunity to prove their resilience. For the Avalanche, it’s a chance to recover their rhythm, compensate for the loss of several players, and regain the consistent performance they displayed during their five-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay seeks to build on their recent win and find the continuity they need to navigate their four-game road trip. The matchup is set to be an intense contest where both teams have everything to gain — or lose.