We'll see a potential first round playoff matchup out of the West Division on Wednesday night, with the first-place Colorado Avalanche visiting the fourth-place St. Louis Blues.
Colorado is in a battle with the Knights for the top seed in the division, while the Blues are jostling for position with the Sharks and Kings at the backend of the playoff picture.
Here are our best free NHL betting picks and predictions for Avalanche vs. Blues on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Avalanche vs Blues odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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NHL sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonColorado opened as -177 chalk at TwinSpires and quickly upped a few cents to -182, then advanced to -186, where the moneyline rests at 4:30 p.m. ET. However, St. Louis is attracting 60 percent of tickets and 58 percent of money. The total is stable at 6, shaded toward the Under, and indeed, the Under is taking 70 percent of tickets/66 percent of dollars.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAvalanche at Blues betting preview
Injuries
Avalanche: Patrik Nemeth D (Questionable), Matt Calvert LW (Out), Bowen Byram D (Out), Logan O'Connor RW (Out).
Blues: Robert Thomas C (Out), Oskar Sundqvist C (Out), Mackenzie MacEachern LW (Out), Carl Gunnarsson D (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Avalanche are 6-1 in the last seven meetings vs. the Blues. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Blues.
Moneyline pick
Since dropping the first game of the season to St. Louis 4-1, the Avalanche have dominated the Blues. Colorado came back two nights later and routed St. Louis 8-0 and have won the subsequent two games, holding a 3-1 lead in the season series. The Avs are in fantastic form at the moment, with just three regulation losses since March 1.
Colorado has effectively navigated multiple injury crises and added depth in between the pipes, on the blue line and its forward lines ahead of the trade deadline, with the acquisitions of Carl Soderberg, Patrik Nemeth and Devan Dubnyk. As Hall of Famer and Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said after the deadline passed, they recognize the time is now to push for a Stanley Cup, and their roster is ready to do just that.
While the Avs are perhaps the best team in the NHL and certainly among the hottest, the Blues will welcome them having discovered some form themselves, after snapping a seven-game losing streak that included two losses to Colorado. The Blues won the second part of a two-game series against the Knights, then swept a two-game set against the Wild — which included a dominant 9-1 thrashing.
Between the return of Colton Parayko and the halting of an ugly losing streak with a few impressive wins, there's still reason to believe St. Louis can make a playoff push. However an upset against an absolutely unstoppable Avalanche team? Not so much.
PREDICTION: Avalanche (-179)
Over/Under pick
Though Colorado boasts arguably the best line in hockey and perhaps the most dynamic defenseman in Cale Makar, as well as the top-ranked attack in goals and shots per game, it hasn't been an Over lock in 2021. That's because, in addition to a lethal attack, they also have a shutdown blue line. On the back of a Vezina-caliber season from Philipp Grubauer and a Norris-caliber season from Makar (if it weren't for injuries), the Avs are limiting opponents to the fewest shots and second-fewest goals per game.
St. Louis, at 19-21 O/U on the season, is a middling team on both ends in terms of shots/goals per game, while having the fourth-worst penalty-kill in the NHL. Parayko's return should help to stabilize the Blues' defense in time, as he shakes off the rust.
Only Colorado's early-season beatdown of the Blues pushed the total Over between these two teams, otherwise, the Under is 3-0 in this series on the year. Even with the Avs cruising, they are averaging fewer goals per game in April (3.3) than on the year (3.6), while the Blues' average has seen a slight uptick, from 2.9 to 3.2, but that is with the benefit of a nine-goal explosion. Colorado should handle this game with ease, but don't expect a ton of goals.
PREDICTION: Under 5.5 (+105)
Avalanche vs Blues betting card
- Avalanche (-179)
- Under 5.5 (+105)
Picks made on 4/13/2021 at 7:10 p.m. ET.
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