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Colorado heads to Tampa on Tuesday, January 6 at 7:00 PM ET from Benchmark International Arena, and it feels like one of those midseason games where the market actually has to make a tough decision. The Avalanche are 31-3-7 and sitting on top of the Central, but they’re coming off a rare 2-1 regulation loss to Florida and they’re doing it while absorbing real injury losses.
Tampa Bay is 25-13-3 and rolling into this matchup on a seven-game win streak. The Lightning have been scoring, they’ve been closing, and they’ve looked comfortable winning games multiple ways even with key blue line pieces out. This one streams on ESPN+ and it’s basically an “elite vs elite” spot with a little chaos layered in.
Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
These are the current betting lines, but you should always monitor updated numbers and shop price, especially in a game this tight. For the Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning odds, check the latest NHL odds before puck drop.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | -115 | -1.5 (+205) | O 6.5 (EVEN) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -105 | +1.5 (-250) | U 6.5 (-120) |
Colorado Avalanche Betting Form
Colorado has been the league’s most reliable bettor’s team for months, and not just because they win. The profile is clean: they score a ton, they defend better than anyone, and they’ve been steady at five-on-five. Even the recent loss in Florida felt more like a scheduling and attrition spot than some sudden collapse. Still, it matters that this is their third game in four nights, and the injuries finally look like they could change how “automatic” their game is.
The power play is still the one part of Colorado that can feel a bit clunky for long stretches. When it’s not clicking, they tend to rely on volume and transition chances instead of sustained-zone domination. That’s usually fine, but against a Tampa team that can punish small mistakes, you’re not as comfortable laying a price. If you want to dig deeper into splits and recent performance, the Colorado Avalanche stats and results page is the easiest way to track how they’re actually trending.
Injuries are the swing factor here, so keep an eye on the Colorado Avalanche injury report as game time approaches.
| Player | Pos | Status | Est. return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Landeskog | LW | Out | Jan 16 |
| Devon Toews | D | Out | Jan 16 |
| Mackenzie Blackwood | G | IR | Jan 8 |
| Joel Kiviranta | LW | Day-to-day | Jan 8 |
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Form
Tampa’s surge is real, and it’s not just a soft schedule thing. The Lightning have been finishing games, their top-end creators are producing, and they’ve gotten enough goaltending to let their offense stay aggressive instead of cautious. This is also a nice spot for them at home, with Colorado traveling again and potentially missing key pieces that matter in a matchup like this.
What I like from a betting lens is Tampa’s ability to generate goals without needing to dominate shot share. They can strike off broken plays, they can score off the rush, and they can turn special teams into a momentum lever. Even without Victor Hedman, the power play has stayed dangerous because the puck movement through their stars still forces rotation and mistakes. That said, the blue line injuries do matter when you’re facing Colorado’s speed and pressure, so it’s not a free pass.
For a fuller view of recent results and home/road splits, the Tampa Bay Lightning schedule and stats page is a good quick check. Also monitor the Lightning injury report, because Tampa’s defensive availability can move totals and puck line pricing more than people expect.
| Player | Pos | Status | Est. return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Hedman | D | IR | Feb 1 |
| Ryan McDonagh | D | IR | Jan 10 |
| Scott Sabourin | RW | IR | Jan 6 |
Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning Matchup Breakdown
At five-on-five, the pace should be high early, but this matchup can tighten fast if the first ten minutes don’t produce. Colorado wants to play in layers through the neutral zone, then turn it into quick strike offense with their speed and spacing. Tampa wants to lure you into mistakes, counter, and let their elite finishers do the rest. It’s a fascinating clash because both teams can look “in control” while doing completely different things.
Special teams are worth your attention, but not in the simple way. Tampa’s power play is the more threatening unit in terms of creativity, yet Colorado’s penalty kill has been excellent. On the other side, Colorado’s power play has been more inconsistent than you’d expect from a team scoring four goals per game, and Tampa’s shorthanded work has held up well. If you want a framework for how to handicap special teams and game state, the NHL betting guide is useful, especially for totals and derivative angles.
Goaltending looks like a real edge-point, too. Tampa has Andrei Vasilevskiy available with strong season numbers, while Colorado is dealing with Mackenzie Blackwood on IR, which likely pushes more responsibility onto Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood has been good, but this is a different caliber of shot quality and finishing.
One more note that matters: the moneyline has been hovering near pick’em, and Colorado’s price has softened slightly from the opener. That’s usually the market reacting to injury and schedule context, not suddenly deciding Tampa is “better.”
Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning Predictions and Best Bets
My side lean is Tampa on the moneyline at the current number. Not because I think Colorado is suddenly vulnerable overall, but because this is exactly the kind of spot where depth gets tested. Missing Toews changes the way Colorado exits the zone and defends quick counters, and if Landeskog sits for a stretch, it’s not just “lost points,” it’s lost structure and puck battles.
But the stronger angle for me is the total. This number is sitting at 6.5, and yes, both teams can score. Still, the matchup profile leans toward long stretches of tight checking once the game settles, and both clubs are built to defend high-danger looks when they’re locked in. Also, this is one of those games where coaches will take the free unders that come from smart line changes and fewer reckless pinches.
There’s also a practical angle: when the market prices a game this evenly, you often get playoff-style behavior. Not always, but often enough that I’ll take the plus price avoidance and just play the total.
Best Bet: Under 6.5 (-120).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting NHL regularly, you don’t need more noise, you need a consistent process and a way to compare opinions without guessing who’s actually winning long term. That’s why checking today’s NHL picks is useful on a busy slate, especially when you can filter by matchup and see how different cappers attack the same market.
The other edge is transparency. The top sports handicappers page makes it easy to find profitable styles, and the handicapper leaderboard helps you track who’s hot without pretending short-term runs are magic. If you want more volume or stronger conviction plays, you can also buy expert picks, and when you’re scanning the full board, the NHL previews page is a clean way to stay organized. For bettors who mix in futures, the Stanley Cup betting guide pairs well with nights like this, because games between contenders are where your priors on true Cup equity usually get tested.
