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Tampa Bay has a chance to become the first team since the 1980s New York Islanders to win more than two consecutive Stanley Cups. The Lightning will travel to Colorado tonight for Game 1.
The Avalanche have been the favorite to win the Cup for most of the season. They finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference and the second-best record overall.
There will be plenty of stars on the ice tonight. That means plenty of opportunities to find great player props bets. Here are the top NHL Stanley Cup player props picks for Game 1.
Check out our Lightning vs. Avalanche game 1 preview.
Cale Makar – OVER 2.5 Shots (-180)
Makar has been an absolute beast during the playoffs this year. That’s why he is one of the leading favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The Avs defenseman is exceptionally fast and it shows on both the defensive end and on offense. Colorado is able to prevent high quality shots by its opponents and guys like Makar are able to get off their own high quality shots.
Makar has averaged 3.6 shots per game so far in the postseason, 2.92 coming in 5-on-5 situations. In eight of the Avs 14 playoff games, Makar has at least four shots on goal.
Nathan MacKinnon – OVER 4.5 Shots (-140)
MacKinnon has been just ridiculously good this postseason. He and Makar have combined for 40 points so far in the playoffs.
Through 14 playoff games, no player has come anywhere close to the number of shots taken by MacKinnon. He has 82 shots which is 31 more than the player at No. 2.
MacKinnon is averaging 5.9 shots per game in the postseason. In nine of the 14 playoff games this season, he has gone Over this prop. Plus, he’s had more than 4.5 shots in five of seven home games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – OVER 32.5 Saves (-120)
Vasilevskiy is another Conn Smythe favorite. He did, of course, win the award last year when the Lightning won their second straight Stanley Cup.
The Lightning goalie has struggled in series openers this season though. In three games, he is just 1-2 while giving up 12 goals on 100 shots.
The big reason why Vasilevskiy will reach tonight’s prop is that he is going to get peppered by Colorado. In their last series-opening game, the Avalanche lit up Edmonton with 47 shots. Those 47 shots led to eight goals and a Game 1 win.
The Avs had 34 and 45 shots in their other two Game 1 victories this postseason. Vasilevskiy is going to face a ton of shots tonight and with his skill level he’ll reach this prop.
Ondrej Palat – OVER 0.5 Points (-120)
Palat is second on the Lightning with 16 playoff points. He has eight goals and eight assists so far and is riding a four-game point streak.
Palat scored the game-winning goals in both Game 3 and Game 5 for Tampa Bay in its series victory over the New York Rangers.
Playing on a line with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, Palat kind of gets lost in the shuffle. That will give Palat the opportunity to extend his point streak.
