Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and the Colorado Avalanche will do battle against Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, and the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center in a Central Division tilt. Altitude 2 will showcase the action, which gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 14.
Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
Colorado is 17-14 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.5 units this year. Through 31 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. As a road team this season, the Avs are 11-8 SU.
Colorado enters the match up with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 29.7 percent of its extra-man chances this year. Its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it has successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all penalties..
Boasting a .916 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (10-11-3) has been the top option in goal for Colorado this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Philipp Grubauer (7-5-2 record, .900 save percentage, 3.16 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, St. Louis is 11-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 29 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while another 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 7-10 SU at home this year.
The Blues have converted on just 22.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jake Allen has stopped 25.1 shots per game as the primary choice in the crease for the Blues. Allen has nine wins, 14 losses, and four OT losses and has recorded a poor .899 save percentage and 3.11 goals against average this season.
Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Blues, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five games.
- Five of St. Louis’ last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 1-4 overall in those games.
- Colorado skaters created 20.4 hits per game last season, while the Blues accounted for 23.1 hits per contest.
