Avalanche vs. Blues Odds
| Avalanche Odds | -178 |
| Blues Odds | +146 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -122/ +100 |
Here's everything you need to know about Avalanche vs. Blues on Friday, Dec. 29 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
These teams have already squared off twice this season and the over/under is 1-1 in those two games. So, will this game be low- or high-scoring?
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make an Avalanche vs. Blues prediction and pick.
Colorado Avalanche
Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev is slated to take the crease for Colorado and could be a good candidate to back in this contest. It has been a bit of a tumultuous season for the Bulgarian netminder, but he is better than his .896 SV% suggests and has started to settle in recently.
Over his past five starts, Georgiev is 3-1-1 and allowed three or fewer goals in three of those five outings. That turnaround could continue against St. Louis, a team he owns a .906 SV% against over this past six starts.
It's noteworthy that there were six or fewer goals scored in four of those six games.
It helps Georgiev's cause that the blue line features the likes of Cale Makar and Devon Toews. This season, the Avalanche rank in the top half of the league in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game and penalty kill percentage.
St. Louis Blues
Colorado should be able to get away with even average defense and goaltending against the Blues' offense as St. Louis ranks in the bottom half of the league in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and power play percentage.
Based on the analytics, positive regression is unlikely for this offense as it ranks 24th in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5. However, the offense could get bailed out with goaltender Jordan Binnington slated to guard the cage for the Blues on Friday.
Through 25 appearances, Binnington owns a .900 SV% and a 3.28 GAA.
Like Georgiev, Binnington boasts a strong track record against tonight's opponent. Over his past nine starts against the Avalanche, Binnington boasts a tremendous .925 SV% and a 2.68 GAA.
There were six or fewer goals scored in seven of those nine outings.
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Avalanche vs. Blues
Betting Pick & Prediction
Colorado's offense is the biggest threat to this under, especially with a power play that ranks eighth in the league. However, St. Louis ranks first in penalty minutes per game and should be able to eliminate that threat.
Georgiev and Binnington are both capable of holding their own, especially with their given track records against tonight's opponents. There have been six or fewer goals scored in six of the past seven meetings between these two teams and I'm betting that'll continue.
I am taking Under 6.5 (+100) at FanDuel, and would play it down to -110.
Pick: Under 6.5 (+100 at FanDuel | Play to -110)
