A long and grueling NHL season has led us here — Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals on June 14. We have a full breakdown of Wednesday’s game between Colorado and Tampa Bay right here. Keep reading for free betting picks on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals!
Stanley Cup Game 1: Over/Under Pick
Six goals — that’s the over/under total in Game 1, as set by the top-used online sportsbooks. Here are the current betting odds:
Tampa has reached its third straight Stanley Cup Final on the back of elite goaltending and defense. Unlike the two previous years, the Lightning is winning games off just two or three goals scored — as they’ve done in six of its past nine postseason victories. This has led to the under hitting in nine of Tampa’s past 10 matchups.
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has re-cemented himself as the league’s best at the position during this playoff run. It’s not just that Vasilevskiy is preventing goals, but it’s about which teams that is coming against — the high-powered attacks of Toronto and Florida (which led the league in regular-season scoring, just ahead of Colorado). The Avalanche can score with the beat of them, but as Vasilevskiy has shown so far, he’s up for the challenge.
One more thing that points to an under in Game 1: Colorado is rarely ever penalized. They’re committing 2.9 penalties per game in the postseason, which is the second-least. So it’s our belief that opportunities for power-play goals will be slim for the Lightning, not a good sign for a team that’s been middling offensively as of late.
Take the under here. Not only do you have the above factors influencing a low-scoring affair, but Game 1 is also a “feel out” game where each side is barely getting acclimated with one another. Six combined goals will be hard to come by in this one.
Stanley Cup Game 1: Puck Line Pick
Hours before Game 1, here’s how the best betting sites for NHL are currently pegging the puck line odds:
Rest has to be weighed when making this pick. The home-ice Avs will be on eight full days of rest from the Cup opener to its last postseason matchup. The Bolts, meanwhile, rested up three days AND have to travel for this one. Though, depending on your perspective, Colorado’s rest could actually be a detriment. That is if you believe in accumulating “rust” when not playing.
Either way, we sense this game goes down to the wire. It’s our belief that the Avalanche has huge advantages of playing at home and on rest. However, we do think the Lightning are the better team, that will eventually win this series.
That’s because of the aforementioned Vasilevskiy. We can’t understate his greatness — and it’s a level that Colorado has yet to face this postseason. Yes, they’ve rolled to a 12-2 mark in the postseason but that’s been against subpar teams and goaltenders. We think there will be an adjustment period in store for the home-ice team in Game 1 (and this whole series for that matter).
A close game favors Tampa covering the spread on the road. Maybe this bet doesn’t have the best betting value, but it’s worth putting in a same-game parlay (if that’s allowed at your bookmaker).
Stanley Cup Game 1: Moneyline Pick
And now for our final pick on who wins the opening Cup matchup. As it stands, the Avs are the clear moneyline betting favorites. Here are the betting lines for reference:
We’ve already told you that Tampa Bay is our Stanley Cup pick to win — but not in Game 1. Right now, the odds are stacked against them due to the grueling conference finals series they played in and being on the road. The reigning champs will overcome this as the series wears on, but not immediately, hence our Avalanche moneyline pick here.
Plus, let’s not forget the two regular-season meetings these two teams had. Both ended in Colorado victories by one goal (one of which came in a shootout). The betting favorites will hold the home-ice advantage in Game 1, bank on it!
How To Bet On 2022 NHL Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup is your last chance to bet on the NHL for several months. If you want to seize this opportunity, then visit one of the underneath bookmakers. Any one of them will have you covered with ALL the 2022 Stanley Cup bets you’re looking for — futures, props, individual matchups like what we covered above, etc.
Also, reference the below table if you need help finding the best sportsbook for you. We’ve included unbiased reviews and details about each site’s current bonuses in the table to make the decision all the easier for you!
About the Author
Eric is uniquely suited to be a writer for SBS. For one, he's a journalist by trade. Eric spent a large part of his career, covering sports — high school, college, and professional — for newspapers and online-based sites. However, Eric is a bettor himself too. He has first-hand experience hanging out in smoky sportsbooks and casinos, dealing with the ebbs and flows of gambling, and an understanding of how bookies operate. Both these unique qualities make him an expert bet picker for SBS. You'll also see Eric report on the sports betting industry as a whole.
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