Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Colorado Avalanche. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025-26 season.
NHL Predictions with Tampa Bay at Colorado
Time: 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
How to Watch TV: TNT, HBO MAX, TRU TV
Location: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
2024–25 Season Series: Lightning – 2-0
Lightning Outlook
Tampa Bay enters this one as the offence-heavy, experienced team. After five straight victories, they believe their mojo is back, baby. Yeah! (Are those movies that old already?) Tampa Bay beat Utah 4-2 on Sunday with Yanni Gourde, Anthony Cirelli, and Brandon Hagel scoring. Jonas Johansson stopped 25 shots. It took some early games for this old car to warm up on a winter day, but now the heat is pumping through their vents.
NHL Predictions Keys to Victory
They still have elite fire-power and a battle-tested core. They’re also used to big games. What they need to focus on is that their breakouts need to be clean. In other words, don’t give the Avalanche odd-man chances. Nathan MacKinnon will make you write his name on the chaulkboard over and over when you’re in detention. Let your shooters shoot, and when you’ve got the gear and the space, you might as well fire away. They were outshot, outhit and had less power plays and faceoffs won against Utah. But they still won, and that stat beats the rest.
Avalanche Outlook
Colorado, 7-1-5, brings speed, transition play, and a hunger to break through after going winless in the last five games in OT. Those particular losses can make a bad spell look like a good record. Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon scored for the Avalanche in its latest loss to the Sharks, while Mackenzie Blackwood had 20 saves. They want to use home ice to get a streak going in the right direction.
NHL Predictions Keys to Victory
The Avs need to disrupt Tampa’s timing, especially in the neutral zone. Turnovers equal opportunities. They also need to look to win special teams. If Colorado can tilt the ice on power plays, they’ll swing momentum. They have the legs, and on their day, they can match anybody. Stay disciplined, avoid turnovers, and make their chances count.
Pick & Prediction
Edge goes to the Avalanche. Their home strength plus big-game experience gives them the slight upper hand after the mounting losses in OT. The Lightning are dangerous, but may fall just short in a tight one.
Prediction: Colorado 3 Tampa Bay 2
Expect the Lightning to strike early, the Avalanche to push hard mid-game, and then hold on for a dramatic finish. These two teams have won Cups in the last few years, so even regular-season games bring the “Must-see-TV” vibe.
Prop Bets of the Night
Over 6.5 Total Goals:
These teams have recently produced high‐scoring affairs (goal averages among them are 6.2 in past head-to-heads).
Anytime Goal: Nikita Kucherov:
The guy, as always, knows the net and the moment and his vitamins have kicked in.
Final Thoughts
Our NHL Predictions panel thinks this one will be part offensive showcase, part speed duel, and part strategic chess match. Tampa wants to reaffirm its dominance. Colorado wants to prove they’re the real deal. For fans? Buckle up. The Lightning might strike, but the Avalanche might just rumble too.
Main Photo Ron Chenoy Imagn Images
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