Tampa Bay at Colorado

Colorado had no trouble sweeping Edmonton and its top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers' high-powered offense never was able to get much going in the Western Conference final. The speed of the Avalanche's top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin has been a major factor in Colorado breezing through the playoffs so far, and the Avalanche has been fortunate to have a very capable backup goaltender in Pavel Francouz, who was filling in for injured Darcy Kuemper and one of the best defensemen in the league and maybe all-time in Cale Makar. Colorado gets home ice and it is 57-13 its past 70 games at home and all were as a favorite and the Avs are 17-5 overall playing with at least three days rest. Colorado scored 22 goals in the four games against Edmonton while the Lightning averaged only 2.7 goals in six games versus the Rangers while depending heavily on goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Colorado won both meetings during the regular season and it is 38-15 its past 53 games versus the Atlantic Division. Take the Avalanche in Game 1.