T.M. Selection: Tampa Bay Lightning +1.5.

I like the Tampa Bay Lightning puckline against the Colorado Avalanche in this game on Friday. The Lightning are trailing in this series 3-1 now and they are on the brink of not only elimination but losing the cup to the Avalanche in this game. They are still the B2B defending champions and I expect them to bring their best effort in this game with their backs against the wall. They had a great start in the previous game but as the game went on they let it get away from them and ended up losing in OT on home ice. The Lightning know they can't lose this game so I expect their best effort here to try and win and even if they lose, I don't expect this game to be a blowout. The Lightning already took the Avalanche to OT in the 1st game of this series in Colorado, and even their 2 meetings during the regular season went to OT so these games are always close when they play each other. The Lightning still have the better goalie with Vasilevskiy in net and I think the Lightning will score some goals in this game to keep up with anything the Avalanche throw at them. The defense was also great in the previous game and I expect these 2 teams to be neck and neck all night. I like the Lightning puckline here to win or at least keep this game close.

T.M. Prediction: 3-2 Lightning.