Avalanche vs. Blues NHL Prediction
Following a COVID-related layoff, the Avalanche return to the ice on Thursday night when they take on the Blues at 8:00 p.m. ET. Will Colorado return with a victory or is there a better play on the board?
Game Snapshot
023 Colorado Avalanche (-145) at 024 St. Louis Blues (+125); o/u 5.5
8:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 22, 2021
Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Colorado Avalanche DFS Spin
Mikko Rantanen (COVID protocol) will be unavailable for the start of Colorado’s road trip. Rantanen won’t be cleared from COVID protocol ahead of Thursday’s game versus St. Louis in the team’s return to play from a COVID-19 pause. “He got close contact traced, so he is going to stay back at the start of the road trip,” coach Jared Bednar told 92.5 Altitude FM on Wednesday. “If things go well he could join our team and possibly be available for the latter part of the trip.” The Avalanche bench boss added that Rantanen is “not a two-week guy. We’re still waiting on tests and he has to keep going through tests for a few days here, can’t travel, and hopefully he can join us for the latter part of this trip and next Wednesday. Not as bad as the other guys who have to do an automatic two weeks.”
St. Louis Blues DFS Spin
Jordan Binnington stopped 26 of 29 shots in a 3-2 loss to Arizona Saturday night. St. Louis had a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, but Binnington allowed two goals on 10 shots in the second period. He was beaten once more in the third as the Blues found themselves on the wrong side of a come-from-behind victory.
Avalanche vs. Blues NHL Prediction
The Avalanche are 4-0 in their last four games versus the Blues, while the favorite has cashed in 40 of the last 57 meetings between these two teams. The Aves are also 4-1 in their last five games as a road favorite, are 48-22 in their last 70 games overall and 53-25 in their last 78 games as a favorite. On the other side, the Blues are just 7-20 in their last 27 home games and are 3-9 in their last 12 games overall.
NHL PREDICTION: COLORADO AVALANCHE -145