NHL Betting: Blues vs Avalanche Second Round Game 1 – 05/17/2022

For the second year in a row, the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche will face each other in the postseason. The Avs bounced the Blues with a first-round sweep last season and followed that up this season by winning two of three contests. This betting guide will give some of the better value plays for the first game of this second-round series.

St. Louis Blues (+180) vs Colorado Avalanche (-225)

STL: Defeated Minnesota Wild in First Round, 4-2

COL: Defeated Nashville Predators in First Round, 4-0

The Avalanche roared through the first round, racking up 21 goals in the four-game sweep. St. Louis fell behind the Minnesota Wild 2-1, but switched to goaltender Jordan Binnington in Game 4 and won three straight. Colorado will likely get goaltender Darcy Kuemper back, who was injured in Game 3 on a fluke play where Ryan Johansen’s stick poked through his mask.

Darcy Kuemper Colorado Avalanche
Darcy Kuemper, Colorado Avalanche (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Colorado looked like a team on a mission in the first round, scoring seven power-play goals total and piling up at least five goals in three of the games. Despite playing in just four games, Cale Makar amassed 10 points, and four different players scored at least four goals. St. Louis has won three in a row, but this is a different animal. The Blues will win at least one game in this series, but not Game 1. The Avs moneyline (-225) is poor, but there is still a bit of value in Colorado’s puck line (-1.5, +110). That’s the best play for Game 1, as the Avs should come out roaring.

Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-135)

In the three regular-season games between these two teams, a blistering 23 goals were scored. The over hit in three of Colorado’s four first-round games, and St. Louis scored five goals in their three wins to close out the Wild. The over also hit in the last six regular-season meetings between these two teams and two of their four playoff games last year.

With the way both of these offenses are playing, taking the over (O6.5, -135) is the only play here. Colorado is clearly rolling, and everybody was involved in the first round. St. Louis got a hat trick from David Perron in Game 1, and three Blues scored at least five goals in the series. There should be plenty of goals scored in this series, and taking the over might be a common play here.

Prop Bet: First-Period Goals (Over 2, +100)

At least two goals were scored in the first period of each of Colorado’s first-round games and five of St. Louis’ six. Both of these teams rely on quick starts, and that means fast and open action. Colorado has been notorious for hot starts all season, and the Avs know they’re tough to stop if they get a first-period lead, going 30-2-1 this season when leading after the first 20 minutes.

Vladimir Tarasenko St. Louis Blues
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In the final regular-season meeting between the teams, four goals were scored in the first period. A staggering six different players combined to score 12 first-period for the Avalanche against Nashville, so they mean business from the drop of the puck. Look for the shots to start flying early and often in this one, and even money is a good number (+100) for at least two goals to be scored.

Odds via BetMGM

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