The Scottrade Center will be the site for a Central Division showdown as the Colorado Avalanche pay a visit to the St. Louis Blues. The action will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 25, and it’ll air live on Altitude 2.
Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
St. Louis (+155) is currently the underdog to St. Louis (-175), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
The Blues are 29-21 straight up (SU) and have earned 1.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Central Division so far this season, is right in line with what the team produced during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Of its 50 regular season outings, 30 have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 16-10 SU at home this year.
St. Louis has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 28th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties just 3.5 times per game overall this season, 3.6 per game over its last five outings total, and 3.0 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.6 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 25.8 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Jake Allen (18 wins, 18 losses, and two OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Blues this year. If head coach Mike Yeo chooses to give him the night off, however, the team could turn to Carter Hutton (12-8-8 record, .941 save percentage, 1.79 goals against average).
Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko will both spearhead the attack for the Blues. Schenn (49 points) has tallied 20 goals and 29 assists and has recorded multiple points in 11 different games this year. Tarasenko has 21 goals and 25 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 29 games.
Colorado is 27-20 straight up (SU) and has netted 11.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. A total of 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just two have pushed. Colorado’s 9-12 SU as the visiting team this season.
Colorado has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (2.87 goals against average and .912 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 28.5 saves per game and has 14 wins, 12 losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Avalanche will be Nathan MacKinnon, who has 24 goals and 36 assists this year.
Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while St. Louis is 3-0 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of St. Louis’ last five outings.
Colorado has managed 26.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while St. Louis is averaging 33.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
Over Colorado’s last ten games, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 8-1 in those games).
The Blue Notes this season have recorded the 12th-most hits per game (22.2).
