39 of the 76 expert predictions we found are picking the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the 2022 Stanley Cup Final over the Colorado Avalanche. That’s right, just one Lightning vote shifting to the Avalanche would make the NHL’s finale picks a tie for third time in the 10 years we’ve been aggregating them. 

Of course, we could have always changed ours, because … 

Scoreboard Page: Lightning in 6. The Avalanche are 1-0 against Florida teams in the Stanley Cup Final. But those Panthers, rats and all, were not this Lightning team, two-time defending champions. Of course, when Tampa Bay went down two to the New York Rangers, some wondered if this team is actually that team anymore. But here they are. And now that they’re here, why not take out the darling of the power rankings all season? With the rare feat of a three-peat in front of them, expect the Lightning to … strike.

Here’s how the picks of experts at other media outlets broke down:

CBS Sports: Lightning 1, Avalanche 1

Bleacher Report: Lightning 2, Avalanche 2

NHL.com: Lightning 6, Avalanche 9

Sporting News: Lightning 1, Avalanche 0

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, plus NHL coaches and execs: Lightning 13, Avalanche 12

SBNation: Lightning 0, Avalanche 1

The Hockey News: Lightning 1, Avalanche 0

ESPN: Lightning 14, Avalanche 12

Click the links above for their full predictions.