It fits that this Stanley Cup Final between the Lightning and Avalanche is going at least six games and maybe seven if the Lightning can win on home ice on Sunday night. Colorado dominated the first two games, Tampa Bay dominated Game 3, and the last two games have been tossups with both teams winning a game. So we go to Game 6 with the Avalanche slight favorites (-115) and the over/under set at six goals.
If you’re trying to think of the last NHL team to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to win the Stanley Cup, and you’re coming up empty-handed, it’s not a surprise. Only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs erased a 3-1 series deficit. The Edmonton Oilers forced a Game 7 in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final after putting themselves in a 3-1 hole, but the Carolina Hurricanes won Game 7 3-1 on home ice.
It’s still a tough uphill climb for the Lightning to win this year’s Cup and their third straight.
What time is Avalanche vs Lightning Game 6?
8pm ET on Sunday
Where to watch and stream Avalanche vs Lightning?
Channels: ABC, CBC, SN
Streaming: ESPN+, SN Now
Stanley Cup Final schedule
Game 1: Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 – OT
Game 2: Avalanche 7, Lightning 0
Game 3: Lightning 6, Avalanche 2
Game 4: Avalanche 3, Lightning 2 – OT
Game 5: Lightning 3, Avalanches 2 | Avalanche lead 3-2
Game 6: Avalanche at Lightning | Sunday, June 26 | 8pm ET
Game 7*: Lightning at Avalanche | Tuesday, June 28 | 8pm ET
Every day during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their picks, straight up. We put our picks, the TV schedule and all series coverage, plus the latest odds, all in one place for fans to easily digest and follow. Our in-depth NHL coverage is linked below the picks. For live NHL odds from BetMGM, click here.
What are the odds for Avalanche at Lightning Game 6?
team | money line | Total |
---|---|---|
-115 |
O6 (+105) |
|
-105 |
U 6 (-125) |
Series odds: Avalanches -450, Lightning +320
Lightning vs Avalanche Game 6 preview
Steven Stamkos admitted it Friday night in Denver after his Lightning calmly held strong and used a late goal midway through the third period to outlast the Cup-hungry Avalanche.
“We know the dynamic skill set that they have,” Stamkos said of the favored Avs. “We can’t eliminate it every shift because they’re that good. But you just try to do what we can and grind it out.”
As two-time defending Stanley Cup champs, the Lightning have learned how to survive. They’ve played more games the past three years than any team in the NHL. All that work has worn them down and stressed their health; game after game, it strengthened their backbone.
Again in Game 5, the Avs played as the busier team, with more shots, more shots on goal, more hits, more blocks, and especially more speed. More of nearly everything—except goals.
And the Lightning, facing elimination, again, swatted away the threats.
“That’s the way this team has won,” Stamkos said. “We’re built to play games that are tight like that. We’ve had success in the playoffs playing that way. And we don’t want to change now. So that was more like it, and we’ll look to continue that.”
The Avs, of course, don’t seem ready to relent. Their speed will not suddenly disappear. They’ve won an activity advantage in every game of this final. There’s nothing that says they will suddenly stop flying. It’s why they remain favorites in this series. Their 3-2 lead gives them a distinct edge. Flying back to Florida for another game on slushy ice should not be an overwhelming obstacle for an Avs team that stayed calm in an overtime victory at Tampa Bay in Game 4.
“They’re an experienced group,” Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuember said. “We knew this would be the toughest game of the series. Every game is going to get tougher. We just have to stick with it.”
But the Lightning on Friday proved that the possibility of elimination is not that scary. They will have to survive twice more to win a third cup. But, it seems, that the Bolts will not defeat themselves by succumbing to the pressure. Only the Avs can knock them out.
“What did it mean to go six or seven? Damn right it was,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “These are two damn good hockey teams here.”
Lightning vs Avalanche expert picks and predictions for Game 6
Writer | peck |
---|---|
Jesse Granger |
|
Sean McIndoe |
|
Shayna Goldman |
|
Dom Luszczyszyn |
|
Kevin Kurz |
|
Sean Gentille |
Expert picks records
Writer | peck |
---|---|
Jesse Granger |
56-31 |
Sean McIndoe |
52-35 |
Sean Gentille |
49-38 |
Dom Luszczyszyn |
48-39 |
Shayna Goldman |
48-39 |
Kevin Kurz |
42-45 |
More Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage: News | Podcasts | odds
(Photo of Ondrej Palat, Cale Makar and Darcy Kuemper: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
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