The home team has won the first three games of this series. Blowouts have occurred in the last two games of this series, especially in Game 3, where the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-2. Will Tampa Bay even the series in Game 4, or will Colorado take a 3-1 commanding lead in the series?
Game 4 puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Wednesday, June 22, at Amile Arena, in Tampa Bay, Florida. Colorado will be favored at -1.5 over Tampa Bay, and the over/under goal total will be six goals.
Colorado Avalanche: Looking To Avenge First Road Loss
The Colorado Avalanche was 7-0 on the road this postseason before losing Game 3 on the road. Colorado’s record this postseason so far is 14-3, which is still very impressive. The Avalanche have not lost two games in a row all postseason long.
Gabriel Landeskog scored two goals on the power play in Game 3 for Colorado. He has scored at least one goal for them in their last three of five games and has done it in two of three games in this series. Landeskog has been all over the ice so far in this series.
Cale Makar recorded two assists in Game 3 for the Avalanche. He has a total of six assists in the last five games, but Makar has recorded six assists in only two of those games, though. Makar will need to find the stat sheet in Game 4, and so does Nathan MacKinnon.
Darcy Kuemper only made 17 saves in Game 3 for Colorado and was pulled for Pavel Francouz after giving up five goals. Kuemper is projected to be the Game 4 starter and will need to be much better.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Looking To Defend Home Ice
The Tampa Bay Lighting are 8-1 at home this postseason. Their only home loss was back in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tampa Bay feels a different kind of comfort at home than they do on the road. They will look to defend it.
Ondrej Palat scored his 10th goal this postseason for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has scored at least one goal in the past three of five games. Palat has been playing on the top line.
Steven Stamkos scored his 10th goal this postseason for Tampa Bay. He has scored three goals in the past five games. Stamkos also recorded an assist in Game 3 and has only one in the past five games. A big injury to keep an eye on in Game 4 is Nikita Kucherov.
Andrei Vasilevskiy was much better in Game 3 for the Lightning as he stopped 37 saves. Vasilevskiy is projected to be the starting goalie in Game 4.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
During the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche’s record against the spread on the road was 18-23, and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s record against the spread at home was 17-24.
In the first three games of this series, the over six goals total has been reached, and it feels like it is destined to reach again in Game 4. The under doesn’t feel like a good trend to bet on in this series.
In Game 4, the Colorado Avalanche will bounce back over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Colorado will win over Tampa Bay 5-3. The safe bet here will be Colorado (-1.5) over Tampa Bay and over six goals scored. The Avalanche will not lose two games in a row against the Lightning. Colorado is also healthier right now than Tampa Bay, which will help propel them in Game 4.
