Predators vs Avalanche Game 1 Picks and Odds

• The Colorado Avalanche are solid -320 home favorites over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Western Conference opening-round playoff series on Tuesday, May 3
• Colorado has won four straight Game 1 decisions at home in the playoffs
• See the Predators vs Avalanche odds for Game 1 on Tuesday

For openers, this is not good news for the Nashville Predators – the last time the Colorado Avalanche lost Game 1 of a playoff series at home, Patrick Roy was their goaltender. That was in 2003.

Since then, the Avs have opened four series at home and been successful in each endeavor. Oddsmakers are banking heavily on Colorado extending that streak to five games.

The top-seeded Avalanche are heavy -320 home favorites to defeat the #8-seeded Predators in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup series. Colorado’s five home-ice losses this season are the fewest in the NHL.

Predators vs Avalanche Odds

Odds as of May 2nd at Caesars Sportsbook.

Puck drop for this Tuesday, May 3 game at Ball Arena is set for 9:30 pm ET. ESPN will be broadcasting the contest.

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Predators vs Avalanche NHL Betting Trends

According to the oddsmakers, the Avalanche are the team to beat in the Stanley Cup odds. Colorado is the +350 chalk to be the club holding Lord Stanley’s mug aloft when all is said and done in the NHL playoffs.

For starters, the Avs are being given a 72.4% implied probability of victory in Game 1 of this series in the NHL betting lines. As for the public opinion on Game 1, 86% of the bets placed against the spread are on the Avalanche at -1.5. There’s 56% of the moneyline bets on the Avalanche at -320 odds. Finally, 84% of the public bets are on the Under of 6.5.

What does a 28-goal, 87-point regular season translate to in unrestricted free agency?

Asking for Nazem Kadri.

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) April 30, 2022

Colorado shows an NHL-leading four 80-point scorers – Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Nazem Kadri. Four other Avs topped the 50-point barrier. Makar led all NHL defensemen with 28 goals, while Nashville’s Roman Josi topped rearguards in assists (73) and points (96). Those two are 1-2 in the Norris Trophy odds.

Predators vs Avalanche Recent Results

The Predators include two 40-goal, 80-point scorers in Filip Forsberg and former Avs forward Matt Duchene. A factor working in Nashville’s favor is that they’ve won the last three meetings from Colorado.

MATT DUCHENE BETWEEN HIS LEGS 😳 pic.twitter.com/paWVpk500m

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 22, 2022

Over the past 10 seasons, a team that has won the season series against an opponent has a 65-46 series record when facing that same opponent in the ensuing Stanley Cup playoffs.

Nashville vs Colorado Injury Report

Nashville is finally confirming that #1 goalie Juuse Saros (ankle) is going to miss at least the first two games of the series.

Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) is listed as week-to-week.

Juuse Saros is OUT for the first two games of the first round, John Hynes said.

— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) May 2, 2022

Colorado, meanwhile, will be getting back captain Gabriel Landeskog. He’s been out since mid-March following knee surgery. However, Kadri has missed the last two days of practice with illness and is listed a questionable.

Defenseman Ryan Murray (broken hand) is out.

Who’s in Goal for the Predators?

Minus Saros, Preds coach John Hynes is indicating that he hasn’t decided whether to play David Rittich or Connor Ingram.  Rittich has played 17 games this season.

Connor Ingram’s 2021-22 stats with the @mkeadmirals:
Record: 30-17-7
GAA: 2.70
Save %: .915 pic.twitter.com/5MxCLkxYAQ

— Smashville's Finest (@501Broadway) April 27, 2022

Ingram got into three NHL games, posting a 3.71 GAA and .879 save percentage. But he was solid with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he led the AHL in saves, shutouts and minutes played. He posted a 2.70 GAA, .915 save percentage and 30-17-7 record. Speculation is that Nashville is leaning toward starting Ingram.

Predators vs Avalanche Projected Starting Goalies

The Avs have no such worries. Darcy Kuemper’s first year with the team has proven to be spectacular. He is saving 25.1 goals above average. Kuemper’s 37 wins and 57 games are career highs,

Predators vs Avalanche Game 1 Prediction

A hard, physical club, Nashville is one of the toughest  teams to play against in the NHL. They won’t roll over and die against Colorado but without Saros, they simply won’t be able to keep pace with the high-powered Avs.

The preds earned colorado with their monumental collapse last night, and likely without Juuse Saros too. Darryl Sutter said it best: pic.twitter.com/d5bVU3T9Vc

— ryan (@AngryPredsFan) April 30, 2022

This one offers the potential to get out of hand.

Pick: Colorado Avalanche -1.5  (+125)