When the Stanley Cup Final between the Lightning and Avalanche (-105) started, we expected a back-and-forth barnburner. The NHL’s Next Big Thing (Colorado) and the two-time defending champs (Tampa Bay). An actual matchup between titans of hockey.
With a mystifying 3-2 overtime win for the Avalanche and now a 3-1 series lead — even despite a strong Lightning start — this series shifts back to Denver with a different expectation:
An outright Colorado victory in a quick and largely painless five games.
