One final obstacle stands between the Tampa Bay Lightning and their third consecutive championship, and they look to take the first step toward clearing it when they visit the Colorado Avalanche for Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday. Tampa Bay eliminated the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference final in six games, keeping alive its hopes of becoming the first team to win three straight NHL titles since the New York Islanders captured four in a row from 1980-83. Colorado is seeking the third Cup in franchise history and first since 2001 after sweeping Edmonton in the Western Conference final.

The opening faceoff at Ball Arena in Denver is set for 8 p.m. ET. Colorado is the -150 favorite (risk $150 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Avalanche vs. Lightning odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Tampa Bay is a +130 underdog. The over/under for total goals scored is set at six. 

Before making any Lightning vs. Avalanche picks, you NEED to see the latest NHL predictions from the SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates each NHL game 10,000 times. It enters the 2022 Stanley Cup Final on a 23-18 run on its top-rated NHL side picks. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns. 

The model knows Colorado is well-rested as it has been idle since its 6-5 overtime win at Edmonton in Game 4 of the Western Conference final. The Avalanche have scored at least four goals in 10 of their 14 playoff contests and registered five or more on seven occasions. Nathan MacKinnon is tied for second in the league with 11 postseason tallies and has notched at least one point in 12 of his 14 games.

The model also knows Tampa Bay has won 11 straight playoff series and is the first team to appear in three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals since Edmonton (1983-85). Nikita Kucherov, who has been the leading scorer in each of the last two postseasons, is riding a five-game point streak during which he has recorded three goals and five assists. The Lightning have allowed two goals or fewer in nine of their last 11 contests and gave up a total of five in the last four games of the Eastern Conference final.

Now, the model has set its sights on Avalanche vs. Lightning. We can tell you it's leaning Over on the goal total, and it also says one side of the money line has all the value! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any NHL picks of your own.

So who wins Avalanche vs. Lightning in the Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final? And which side of the money line has all the value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Lightning vs. Avalanche money line you should be all over on Wednesday, all from the model that has simulated this matchup 10,000 times!