The Colorado Avalanche will return from another long delay on Thursday, facing off against the St. Louis Blues. Colorado's last game came eight days ago, against these same Blues, while St. Louis played the Coyotes on Saturday.
Can the Avs shake off the rust and continue their dominant campaign? Here are our best free NHL betting picks and predictions for Avalanche vs. Blues on April 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Avalanche vs Blues odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
NHL sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonColorado went up as -145 chalk at TwinSpires and is up to -165 as of 5 p.m. ET. The Blues are drawing 52 percent of moneyline tickets, while the Avalanche are taking 70 percent of moneyline cash. The total opened at 5.5 (Over -124) and is up to 6 (Under -115), with the Over nabbing 78 percent of tickets/83 percent of money.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAvalanche at Blues betting preview
Injuries
Avalanche: Patrick Nemeth D (Probable), Mikko Rantanen RW (Out), Jonas Donskoi RW (Out), Philipp Grubeauer G (Out), Matt Calvert LW (Out), Erik Johnson D (Out).
Blues: Vince Dunn D (Questionable), Jordan Kyrou C (Questionable), 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 4-0 in the last four meetings vs. the Blues. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Blues.
Moneyline pick
The Avs may be rusty in their return from a second season pause of the year, but before they went away, they looked every bit the juggernaut they were expected to be. Colorado has lost just three times in regulation since March 1 and was primed for a deep playoffs run, after GM Joe Sakic added depth at all three levels at the deadline.
Colorado's previous game, a 4-3 win over the Blues, maintained a dominant record against St. Louis on the season. The Avs fell to the Blues 4-1 on opening night but have since reeled off four straight wins against their divisional foes, outscoring them 17-6 during that stretch.
That depth, and their preparedness for a playoff run, will be tested here. Stud winger Mikko Rantanen is in contact tracing protocol, joining a number of Avs held out, and it could prove difficult to return from an unexpected break. That was proven to be true earlier in the season, when Colorado returned from a 12-day absence with a flat showing against the Knights in a 1-0 loss.
However, the Avs' opponent this time around will work in their favor. The Blues have been off for an extended period as well and simply are not on the same level as Vegas. Colorado may be a little slow out of the gates, but it will still have enough to handle St. Louis — as it has all season.
PREDICTION: Avalanche (-145)
Over/Under pick
What made Colorado look so imposing as a contender before their break was not just its lethal attack, but its complete game. The Avs score the most goals and get off the most shots per game in the NHL, and they also limit their opponents to the fewest shots per game while allowing the third-fewest goals. It'll be on Colorado's blue line to maintain that defensive level in the near future, however, with Vezina candidate Philipp Grubauer out with COVID-19.
In Grubauer's place will be newly acquired veteran Devan Dubnyk. The former Shark started the Avs' last game before their stoppage, saving 31 of 34 shots in a win. That 4-3 Colorado win was just the second time the Blues and Avalanche have gone Over in their season series, with the other instance being when the Avs netted eight in the second game of the season.
Expect another Under between these two teams, with neither team likely to be at their sharpest after an extended break.
PREDICTION: Under 5.5 (+110)
Avalanche vs Blues betting card
- Avalanche (-145)
- Under 5.5 (+110)
Picks made on 4/21/2021 at 8:05 p.m. ET
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NHL Avalanche vs. Blues picks, you could win $25.48 on a $10 bet?
Use our NHL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on the NHL?
You can bet on NHL odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NHL moneylines, puck lines, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NHL prop odds. Head over to our best sportsbooks for NHL betting in your area.
