Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions 04/14/21

Two years ago, Craig Binnington and Craig Berube were riding high in St. Louis.  Binnington rose from obscurity to lead the Blues to their first Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, Berube was the interim coach that masterminded the effort. Since then, St. Louis has not been the same.  Binnington has never matched his NHL betting performance of that 2019 title run.  In turn, there are times where Berube looks like a coach without answers.  But after a horrible stretch, the Blues have pulled themselves together.  St. Louis faces the ultimate test Wednesday night against the rampaging Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues CashBet Wagering Analysis

On this occasion, we get a big-time championship matchup.  Colorado is the online sportsbook favorite for the 2021 Stanley Cup.  St. Louis is just two years removed from hoisting hockey’s Holy Grail.  Colorado is kicking into high gear at the perfect time.  Previously the Avs looked like a team that was on cruise control.  Gamblers loaded up on Colorado in the preseason futures market.  Now we see why they did so.

Certainly, St. Louis busted a lot of bankrolls after winning the Stanley Cup.  Departing defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester are missed.  Most important of all, Binnington misses the support those blueliners reliably supplied.  Still, the gambling public respects the Blues.  But St. Louis is not the same team from two years ago.

Sportsbooks Buried by Avalanche

Late on, the Avalanche have paid in six of their last seven betting on NHL matchups.  Three of their previous five games went under the total.  Colorado is 27-9-4 with 19-21 under the total.  First place in the West Division belongs to the Avalanche.  Colorado leads Vegas by four points for the top spot.  Accordingly, the Avalanche ranks 1^st in the NHL for goal scoring and 9^th for the power play.  Defensively, Colorado is 5^th for goals against and 7^th for penalty killing.

Namely, Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with 15 goals, 33 assists, and a plus-22.  Mikko Rantanen is the leading goal scorer with 23.  Goaltender Philipp Grubauer owns a .919 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.

Blues Find the Right Note

Following a 6-1 blowout home loss to Vegas, Blues coach Craig Berube had enough.  He ripped his team for being “weak.”  St. Louis stormed out to win the three pro hockey betting matchups after Berube’s critique.  St. Louis is 19-16-6 with 19-21 under the total.  Cause by their run did the Blues re-gain the final playoff spot in the West Division.  St. Louis has NHL rankings of 16^th for goals scored and 23^rd for the power play.  Defensively, the Blues rank 23^rd for goals against and 24^th for penalty killing.

Center and team captain Ryan O’Reilly is the Blues’ rock.  To show, O’Reilly has 17 goals, 22 assists, and a plus-18.

Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues Against the Spread

Colorado has gotten the cash in seven of their last ten away games.  Six of their previous eight cleared the hockey betting total.  St. Louis has delivered the money in three of their last four home games.   Only two of their previous seven games cleared the total.

Overall, the Avalanche have won six of their last seven against the Blues.  Four of the last five between these teams went under the total.  St. Louis has utterly dominated the Avalanche at Enterprise Center.  To illuminate, the Blues have won 17 of their last 20 home games with Colorado.  Five of their previous eight games at home to the Avs stayed under the total.

Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues CashBet Free Pick  

A clear difference can be seen in St. Louis this week.  As was previously noted, this NHL gambling series is dominated by the home team.

Avalanche at Blues CashBet Best Bet: 

St. Louis Blues