Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/06/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Venue:  Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -120, Lightning +100; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -120, Lightning +100; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -125, Lightning +105; Over/Under:  6 goals

Colorado Avalanche:  31-3-7 (1st place, Central Division)

Tampa Bay Lightning:  25-13-3 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

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Colorado Avalanche:  9-1-0 last 10

Tampa Bay Lightning:  7-2-1 last 10

The Avalanche are entering this game with 69 points, a 31-3-7 record overall, and they are 14-3-5 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Florida Panthers in their last game, losing that one on the road 2-1. Artturi Lehkonen scored 1 goal for them in that one. Brock Nelson and Josh Manson each led the team in assists with 1 while Nathan MacKinnon led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Scott Wedgewood was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 25 shots with 23 saves and a .920 save percentage. Their offense has scored 165 goals this season averaging 4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 93 goals against them allowing 2.3 goals per game.

The Lightning are entering this game with 53 points, a 25-13-3 record overall, and they are 11-9-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the San Jose Sharks in their last game, winning that one on the road 7-3. Darren Raddysh led the team in goals scored with 3 as he recorded the hattrick while Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel, and Dominic James each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Nikita Kucherov led the team in assists with 4 while Darren Raddysh, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Yanni Gourde each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Andrei Vasilevskiy was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 22 shots with 19 saves and a .864 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 142 goals this season averaging 3.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 110 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked great in their games this season with their 31-3-7 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the West with the best record in the entire NHL. They have also been a great road team with their 14-3-5 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Lightning have looked really good in their games this season with their 25-13-3 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the East. They have looked good on home ice too with their 11-9-0 home record this season. As good as they have looked on home ice, the Lightning have been a better road team this year and just got back from a long road trip too. They have been rolling in their games lately as they are off a 7-3 win over the Sharks in their last one and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, but the Avalanche have still somehow been hotter. The Avalanche are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games and they have been winning games at a historical pace this year. They have been the best team in the NHL by far with one of the best goal differentials too, and they are going to be motivated to end this 7 game winning streak of the Lightning. The Avs are off a tight 2-1 loss to the Panthers in their last one so they will be looking to bounce back in this one, and they are in the better situation since they last played in Florida while the Lightning are coming back from the West. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game. 

Avalanche Lightning Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 3 Lightning 1.

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Colorado Avalanche: 139-84 (+7.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 127-67 (+10.8 units) on the moneyline as a favorite. 22-10 (+7.8 units) on the moneyline after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game. 39-27 (+6.9 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 39-25 OVER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 15-8 OVER against good defensive teams - opponents average 26.5 shots on goal or less.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 119-96 (-9 units) on the moneyline in all games. 21-32 (-6.5 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 to +200. 19-16 (-7.4 units) on the moneyline after playing 3 consecutive road games. 62-57 (-5.6 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 17-8 OVER after a blowout win by 4 goals or more. 19-13 OVER after scoring 6 goals or more in their previous game.

Colorado Avalanche:  G. Landeskog (LW) Day To Day - Upper-Body. D. Toews (D) Day To Day - Upper-Body. G. Brindley (C) Day To Day - Upper-Body. J. Kiviranta (LW) Day To Day - Lower Body. M. Blackwood (G) Out - Undisclosed. L. O'Connor (RW) Out - Hip.

Tampa Bay Lightning:  S. Sabourin (RW) Out - Undisclosed. R. McDonagh (D) Out - Undisclosed. E. Lilleberg (D) Out - Undisclosed. V. Hedman (D) Out - Elbow.

“I thought we played hard, a slow start, too many turnovers early in that game. It looked like they were more competitive than we were and then we got going a bit. Hard fought, close game. We didn’t capitalize on a couple of our opportunities.’’ - Jared Bednar after his team’s loss against the Panthers in their game on Sunday.

"Got the lead, extended the lead, and protected the lead was basically the recipe. Pretty proud of the guys. You get the first two, [and] maybe [you] get a little complacent. They didn't. They got a little greedy and fired up." - Jon Cooper after his team’s win against the Sharks in their game on Saturday.

LW Artturi Lehkonen

C Nathan MacKinnon

RW Martin Necas

LD Samuel Girard

RD Cale Makar

G Scott Wedgewood

LW Gage Goncalves

C Brayden Point

RW Nikita Kucherov

LD Janis Jérôme Moser

RD Darren Raddysh

G Andrei Vasilevskiy

Points: Nathan MacKinnon (74)

Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (35)

Assists: Nathan MacKinnon (39)

GAA: Mackenzie Blackwood (2.07)

Points: Nikita Kucherov (59)

Goals: Nikita Kucherov (20)

Assists: Nikita Kucherov (39)

GAA: Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.36)

Coaches:

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (10th season)

Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper (14th season)