First round action saw the Colorado Avalanche flash a dominant betting on NHL pose. Colorado steamrolled past an overmatched Predators team for an easy payout. In like manner, the Blues were too much for Minnesota in a six-game series victory. Now, both the Avalanche and Blues enter the second round well-rested and confident. Colorado opened as a prohibitive favorite in game one and to win the series. But there are two questions for gamblers regarding this matchup. First, do the Blues have a legitimate chance against the Avs. Second, is the price on Colorado too high?
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche
| Date and Time: | Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 9:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado |
| TV Coverage: | TNT |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | +1½ (-130) | 6½ (-130) | +180 |  |
| Avalanche | -1½ (+110) | 6½ (+110) | -220 | |
| ||||
SBG Odds Analysis – Avalanche of Money on Colorado
At the onset of online wagering action was an avalanche of betting moves on Colorado. Causal fans are falling hard and fast for the Avs. Colorado is the top seed in the Eastern Conference. And their series against Nashville put a lot of fear into gamblers thinking about stepping into the Avs. Colorado can beat teams in many ways, and their decimation of the Predators was awe-inspiring.
Wise Guys have a tough decision for game one and this series. St. Louis is a strong club. But they have not been in the class of Colorado. However, in their playoff series with Minnesota, the Blues flashed a strong look in their own right.
Blues Sign New Tune in 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Of course, the Blues won the 2019 Stanley Cup championship the old-fashioned way. St. Louis played with a heavy style of play and got great goaltending from Jordan Binnington. But offense and scoring have been the new rule for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. And the Blues have successfully adjusted. St. Louis is getting goal-scoring production from multiple sources. Namely, David Perron, Ryan O’Reilly, and Vladimir Tarasenko have scored five goals each,
Most important of all, 2019 goaltending hero Jordan Binnington has regained his net. Binnington opened the playoff series against Minnesota on the pine. But the Blues went back to Binnington when Ville Husso faltered under the playoff heat. Binnington responded with a .943 save percentage and a 3-0 record.
An Avalanche of Weapons
Last series, Colorado swept Nashville by scores of 7-2, 2-1, 7-3, and 5-3. Naturally, Nathan MacKinnon is off to a dominant start to the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. MacKinnon scored five goals in the Nashville series and was a plus-3. And then defenseman Cale Makar is demonstrating why he is Norris Trophy material. Makar scored three goals with seven assists and was a plus-4 against the Predators.
Of major concern is an eye injury to goaltender Darcy Kuemper that has his status as day-to-day. Kuemper has a .934 save percentage in a little over two games. Backup goalie Pavel Francouz has a save percentage of .902 in the playoffs.
St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche SBG Free NHL Picks
In this situation, the resurgent Blues and Binnington are getting an excellent NHL Betting odds price. Correlate St. Louis has the ability to get the win.
Blues at Avalanche SBG Best Bet: St. Louis Blues.