The Colorado Avalanche try again to eliminate the St. Louis Blues Friday in Game 6 of their Western Conference Semifinals playoff series. Colorado leads the series 3-2. Puck drop from Enterprise Center is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Avalanche vs. Blues Game 6 odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Avs were stunned in Game 5 at home as St. Louis stormed back from a 3-0 hole midway through the game to win 5-4 in overtime. Avs C Nathan MacKinnon had arguably the best playoff game of his career with 3 goals and 1 assist. He thought he iced it when he gave them a 4-3 lead, gliding coast to coast for a sick goal with under 3 minutes to go.
The Blues would not give in. C Robert Thomas scored his 2nd goal of the game (and of the playoffs) with just under 1 minute to go to tie it. C Tyler Bozak put back a rebound to win it in OT.
The Blues haven’t won a home game in the series, though. G Jordan Binnington was injured in Game 3, and they spent too much effort retaliating in Game 4. Colorado is not on shaky ground just yet, and its best player just went ablaze.
Avalanche at Blues odds and lines
- Money line: Avalanche -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Blues +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche -1.5 (+130) | Blues +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Avalanche at Blues projected goalies
Darcy Kuemper (5-2, 2.50 GAA, .904 SV%) vs Ville Husso (2-4, 3.78 GAA, .884 SV%)
Kuemper hasn’t been great this series, and he hasn’t had to be. He has allowed 3 goals in 2 of the last 3 games. Colorado won 1 of them. If he gives up 3 or 4 markers in this game, we’re likely going to Game 7.
Husso has been overmatched in the series, but he made some dazzling saves in the last game. He appeared to exit Game 5 with a lot more confidence than he entered. Husso has given up 4 goals in 5 straight games in the playoffs. He’s going to have to limit Colorado to 2 or 3 for the Blues to have a chance to extend the series.
Money line
There won’t be a lot of value in picking this game unless you’re confident in a Blues win. They could win, but it would have to be a similar formula to Game 5 where they stunned Colorado emotionally.
Colorado is angry, and I picked them to win in 6 games before the series began — even with a healthy Binnington. The Avs move on to face the Edmonton Oilers. St. Louis held Colorado’s top players down early in the series, and the Avs found ways to win. I’m not a fan of the -175 money line, but I will LEAN AVALANCHE IN REGULATION (-115).
Against the spread
If this is a close game, the Blues are likely to win. There is a special boosted odds wager AVALANCHE TO SCORE FIRST AND WIN THE SERIES (+130). I’d go lightly on that before I touched either puck line.
Over/Under
The Over has cashed in the last 4 for Colorado on the road and its last 4 games as a road favorite. The Over is 9-3 in the last 12 for St. Louis as an underdog and 8-3 on 1 day of rest. The Over has cashed in 3 straight contests in the series. Go lightly here, because I really feel like Colorado has to keep St. Louis to 2 goals to advance, but LEAN OVER 6.5 (-130).