Lightning vs Avalanche Prediction 1/6/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Lightning vs Avalanche prediction for this NHL game on Tuesday, January 6th at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning are 25-13-3 this season after they defeated San Jose by a score of 7-3 in their last game. Tampa Bay scored three goals in the first period and four more in the second to cruise to the easy win. The Lightning out shot San Jose by a total of 26-22, won 44.1% of the face-offs, and went 3-5 on the power play in the game. Tampa Bay got goals from Hagel, James, Kucherov, Point, and Raddysh (3), while Vasilevskiy stopped 19 out of 22 shots, which was an .864 save percentage. 

Prior to that game, Tampa Bay defeated the Kings by a score of 5-3 and the Ducks by a score of 4-3. The Lightning have won seven games in a row and they are currently second in the Atlantic standings with 53 points. Tampa Bay has scored 3.44 goals per game and they have allowed 2.66 goals against per game, while also going 19.5% on the power play and 83.3% on the penalty kill this season. Nikita Kucherov has led TB with 20 goals and 39 assists, while Jake Guentzel has added 18 goals and 25 assists. The projected starting goalie for Tampa Bay is Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is 16-7-2 with a 2.36 goals against average and a .912 save percentage this season. 

Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview

The Colorado Avalanche are 31-3-7 this year after they lost to Florida by a score of 2-1 in their last game. Colorado tied the game at one in the first period, but they failed to score in the second or third for the low scoring loss. The Avalanche out shot Florida by a total of 28-25, won 54.8% of the face-offs, and went 0-4 on the power play in the game. Colorado got their lone goal from Lehkonen, while Wedgewood stopped 23 out of 25 shots, which was a .920 save percentage. 

Prior to that game, Colorado defeated the Hurricanes by a score of 5-3 and the Blues by a score of 6-1. The Avalanche have won 10 of their last 11 games and they are currently first in the Central standings with 69 points. Colorado has scored 4.00 goals per game and they have allowed 2.17 goals against per game, while also going 16.3% on the power play and 85.6% on the penalty kill this season. Nathan MacKinnon has led Colorado with 35 goals and 39 assists, while Martin Necas has added 19 goals and 34 assists. The projected starting goalie for Colorado is Scott Wedgewood, who is 18-2-4 with a 2.17 goals against average and a .918 save percentage this year. 

Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win

• The Lightning have won each of their last five games as underdogs.
• The Avalanche have lost four of their last six games as road favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Lightning have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games as underdogs.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games at Benchmark International Arena.
• The Avalanche have lost the second period in each of their last seven road games when trailing after the first period.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche have won each of their last seven night games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in each of their last five night games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six home games following a road win.
• The Lightning have lost the second period in each of their last five games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents when leading after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Lightning’s last five games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Avalanche’s last four games at Benchmark International Arena against opponents on a winning streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Avalanche’s last 11 games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last 11 games as home underdogs.

Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts

• Nikita Kucherov has scored at least one goal in each of the Lightning’s last five games.
• Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last five games as underdogs.

Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts

• Nathan MacKinnon has scored at least one goal in four of the Avalanche’s last five games.
• Nathan MacKinnon has recorded at least one assist in each of the Avalanche’s last four games as favorites against the Lightning.

Lightning vs Avalanche Prediction 

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup looking to extend their seven game winning streak and they have scored at least four goals in five straight games. The Lightning are 11-9-0 at home this year, while the Avalanche are 14-3-5 on the road. Colorado has won 10 of their last 11 games, but they have regressed slightly in their last two. Both teams are elite offensively and with Colorado scoring at least five goals in four of their last five, I like the over here.