Predators vs Avalanche Odds, Picks, and Predictions for Thursday (Apr 28)

• The Colorado Avalanche host the Nashville Predators on Thursday, April 28th
• The Avalanche are heavy home favorites in the Thursday NHL odds
• Read below for Predators vs Avalanche odds, picks and prediction

The Colorado Avalanche (56-18-6) will look to continue their success on home ice when they host the Nashville Predators (44-29-7) on Thursday, April 28th. Puck drop is 9pm ET at Ball Arena.

The Avalanche are listed as heavy home favorites in the Thursday NHL odds. The total is set at 6.5 for matchup that will be missing one of the NHL’s top goalies.

Let’s take a look at the Predators vs Avalanche odds and offer you our NHL best bet.

Predators vs Avalanche Odds

Odds as of Apr. 27th at Barstool Sportsbook

Colorado online sports betting markets lists the Avs on the puckline at +112 odds, while the Predators are -136 to keep the game within two goals. Colorado’s -245 moneyline price gives them 68% implied probability to win.

The Avalanche are favored in the 2022 Stanley Cup odds at +350, while the Predators are priced as +4000 longshots to win Lord Stanley.

Avs Heavily Favored in Thursday NHL Odds

The Avalanche are heavily favored to defeat the Predators at home in the Thursday NHL odds. Colorado has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and will play the second wild card team in the first round of the playoffs.

The Avs’ phenomenal home record is the primary reason for their heavy moneyline price Thursday. Colorado has posted a 32-5-3 record at Ball Arena this season. Jared Bednar’s club defeated St. Louis 5-3 in their last game Tuesday.

Thanking our lucky stars!!!!!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/bSIJO0Z2Lq

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 27, 2022

Although Colorado has been excellent on home ice, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing lately. The Avs have dropped four of their past five games and are dealing with injury concerns. Gabriel Landeskog (knee) remains sidelined, while Mikko Rantanen (illness) has missed four straight games.

Rantanen is on track to make his return versus Nashville, which would be a big boost to the Avs’ offense. Colorado is averaging 3.79 goals per game, which is third-best in the NHL. Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon makeup one of the NHL’s most dynamic duos.

The Avalanche are expected to turn to Darcy Kuemper in goal against the Predators. The 31-year-old netminder has had his fair of struggles recently and will look to get on track Thursday.  On the season, Kuemper is 37-12-3 with a .922 save percentage and 2.52 GAA.

Do Preds Offer Road Underdog Value?

Nashville is listed as +195 underdogs against Colorado in the Thursday NHL odds, meaning they have only 32% implied probability to win. The Predators have clinched a playoff spot but are still battling for the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

There’s one major reason this Preds team is priced as huge underdogs versus the Avalanche. Nashville starting goalie Juuse Saros suffered an injury Tuesday and will miss the final two games of the regular season. Saros is a top-five favorite in the Vezina odds.

Juuse Saros is limping and headed to the #Preds locker room. David Rittich is coming into the game.

— Brooks Bratten 🍪 (@brooksbratten) April 27, 2022

Although losing Saros is massive, there’s still reason to be optimistic about Nashville versus Colorado. The Predators have earned at least a point in three of their past four games, including against Calgary and Minnesota. Furthermore, Nashville is 2-1-0 vs Colorado this season.

The Preds bring a decent 19-15-5 road record into Thursday’s game at Ball Arena. Some of that success can be attributed to their excellent power play, which is operating at 24.6% efficiency (5th). Power-play quarterback Roman Josi is closing in on Cale Makar in the Norris odds.

With Saros sidelined, the Predators will turn to either David Rittich or Connor Ingram in goal against the Avs. Rittich has a lackluster .883 save percentage in 16 appearances this season, while Ingram is a wildcard. The 25-year-old has only started two NHL games, posting a .906 save percentage and 3.02 GAA.

Predators vs Avalanche Pick & Prediction

Predators vs Avalanche could be a potential first-round playoff preview depending how these remaining games shake out. Nashville’s ability to keep pace with the Stanley Cup favorites is something to note before making a wager on the game.

Predators vs Avalanche Recent Results

With Colorado having already clinched the first seed in the West, it’s unclear how their roster will look like Thursday. We’re seeing other playoff teams around the NHL rest their star players in these final regular season games to give them a break.

Here are some betting trends to note for Predators vs Avalanche:

• Avalanche are 52-10 in their last 62 games as a home favorite
• Predators are 2-7 in their last 9 games as a road underdog
• Predators are 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Colorado

Although Colorado is a dominant home team, the Preds have had plenty of success in Denver. Not having Saros hurts, but Nashville’s defense has actually surrendered the second-fewest number of high-danger chances in the NHL over the past month.

The Predators have the offense to keep pace with this injury-riddled Avalanche team. Colorado may still find a way to squeak out a close win on home ice, so the Nashville +1.5 puck line is the best value play in the Thursday NHL odds.

Pick: Predators +1.5 (-136)