St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche Game 2 Prediction, Playoff Odds
The Avs again are heavy home favourites on the NHL odds for Game 2 Wednesday with a total of 5.5 goals.
Blues vs. Avalanche Stanley Cup Odds
Colorado was one of this writer’s picks to reach the Stanley Cup Final, which wasn’t exactly going out on a limb considering the Avs won the Presidents’ Trophy. The one worry was a potential second-round matchup with an equally strong Vegas Golden Knights team, but the Knights were upset at home in Game 1 of their series by Minnesota, and if the Wild could somehow win that series the Avs would have that much of an easier road to the Final.
The Avs are now +380 Cup favourites on the NHL odds, having overtaken the Toronto Maple Leafs (+520). To be the West Division playoff winner, Colorado is -145 while St. Louis is +1900. To win this series, the Avalanche are -992 and Blues +695. The favoured exact result is Colorado in five at +177. St. Louis winning the next four games and the series is +5400.
St. Louis is 0-4 in its past four at Colorado. The under is 5-1 in the previous six there.
St. Louis Blues
We projected the Blues to lose the opener 4-2 Monday, and they lost 4-1. Jordan Kyrou, who had 14 goals in the regular season, had the lone goal to tie the game 1-1 late in the second period. It was his first career playoff goal. Jordan Binnington played about as well as possible in net considering he faced 49 shots.
The big story of Game 1, though, was Blues regular-season leading scorer David Perron sitting out in COVID protocols. Still not clear if he can return Wednesday. On the bright side, fellow forward Vladimir Tarasenko returned from a lower-body injury that kept him out since May 3. St. Louis is 0-4 in its past four as a road underdog.
Colorado Avalanche
Superstar Nathan MacKinnon had the tie breaking goal Monday very early in the third and then added another with just 40 seconds remaining. He also had an assist for his 17th career multi-point game in the playoffs, which is fourth-best all-time in Avalanche/Nordiques history (Joe Sakic leads with a whopping 54). MacKinnon’s career 1.39 points-per-game average is the fourth-highest in Stanley Cup playoff history (minimum 25 games), trailing Wayne Gretzky (1.84), Mario Lemieux (1.61) and Barry Pederson (1.53). Yet, MacKinnon wasn’t even the No. 1 star.
Gabriel Landeskog was with a goal and two assists not to mention a Gordie Howe hat trick by adding a fighting major. Young blueliner Cale Makar had the other goal. Philipp Grubauer was arguably the best goaltender in the league during the regular season and allowed one goal on 23 shots. Colorado is 42-20 in its past 62 after a win.
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