Avalanche vs Blues Game 4 Odds, Lines and Picks
- The St. Louis Blues host the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of their 1st Round series Sunday, May 23rd
- Nathan MacKinnon has scored as many goals as the entire Blues team so far in the series
- Here are the odds, team previews, and the best value bet available
The Colorado Avalanche are making quick work of the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
The Avalanche take aim at a series sweep in game four of the series on Sunday. The oddsmakers don’t seem to think the Blues have much of a chance when it comes to extending things to a game five.
Avalanche vs Blues Game 4 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline at DraftKings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | -1.5 (+114) | -220 | O 5.5 (-120) |
| St. Louis Blues | +1.5 (-136) | +185 | U 5.5 (-103) |
Odds as of May 22nd
Colorado is a heavy favorite and the limited value takes the money line out play. So, what’s the best bet? Let’s take a deep dive into the match up to figure out the smartest play.
MacKinnon Playing at Elite Level
Playoff Nathan MacKinnon is quickly becoming the most feared hockey player on the planet. He was great last year and has started this postseason on an incredible run. He’s tallied five goals and two assists in three games, with five of those points coming at even strength. To put those totals into context, the Blues team has combined for five goals in this series. He is almost single-handedly outpacing the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions.
You cannot convince us that Nathan MacKinnon is real.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/CnCkjcnxz9
— p – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 20, 2021
Colorado will be without Nazem Kadri for the foreseeable future after his eight-game suspension was handed down. It’s easy to think the Blues could benefit from the Avalanche depth being tested, but it doesn’t really work that way. Kadri’s minutes are spread throughout the lineup, which includes more ice-time for MacKinnon. The reality is St. Louis would be better off with Kadri in the lineup than having to defend MacKinnon for extra shifts.
Binnington Being Outplayed By Grubauer
There are many reasons the series odds are as one sided as they are. One of the main ones has been the glaring gap between the starting goaltenders in this series. Philipp Grubauer has continued his strong play from the regular season and is 3-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and .944 save percentage.
On the flip side, Jordan Binnington is winless with a 3.77 goals against average and .897 save percentage. The Avalanche have outscored the Blues 15-5 and while some of that is due to Colorado’s offensive depth, some of the blame does belong to Binnington.
Avalanche vs Blues Series Odds
| Series Odds at DraftKings | Total |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | -10000 |
| St. Louis Blues | +3000 |
Colorado obviously won’t be making any changes in goal and it doesn’t look like St. Louis will be either. Ville Husso started 18 games in the regular season for the Blues, but it appears unlikely he’ll get the call in this series. Expect Binnington to get another chance for a first playoff victory this year.
Trust Colorado To Cover Puck Line Again
Colorado has covered the spread in all three games so far in the series. In fact, they’ve won each game by at least three goals. The moneyline isn’t an option but the puck line is still paying plus money. There’s also a good chance the Blues would be aggressive pulling the goalie early if they are down one late with their season on the line. Trust the Avalanche to be the first NHL team to book a spot in the second round with another convincing victory.
- The Pick: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+114)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
