10* LIGHTNING (GOM)

Momentum. It's a very real, tangible factor in sports. Especially in the playoffs. Tampa was gassed after a tough 6-game series win over the Rangers. Colorado was rested and was "lucky" to win Game 1 by a score of 4-3 in OT. Then the Avs won Game 2 by a score of 7-0. It was the most goals ever let in by Tampa's Andrei Vasilivskliy. But Game 3 saw the Lightning make adjustments and win by a blowout score of 6-2. Game 1 was a coin flip. Game 2 was a blowout for the Avs. Game 3 was a blowout for the Lighting. This series has been evenly matched to this point, but I don't think that the home ice advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor in this series. One last point, the Lightning went down 0-2 to the Rangers in the ECF, only to then win 4 straight, allowing just 5 goals in the process. The value in Game 4 lies with the undervalued home side; the play is the Lightning!

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