by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, May 19, 2022Western Conference Second Round, Game 2 -- Avalanche lead 1-0
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Where to watch: TNT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Avalanche -230, Blues +180
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Al McMordie has reeled off a strong 20-8-0 run over the last month in the NHL. Man, what a start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Did you enjoy all those Game Sevens? Because we sure did. You think all that fun in Round 1 was great? How about these next four matchups? It’s going to be a wild ride. You need to be tuned in here to find out all the expert analysis. Catch Al’s plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Blues - Avalanche preview and analysis
I don't think the Colorado Avalanche can be stopped. If they are to ever be stopped, we are in the process of trying to understand if they even lose this postseason. Because for as good as Jordan Binnington was in Game 1, the Avalanche were better in a 3-2 overtime win in Game 1.
Now the Avalanche will try, for the second straight year, to take a 2-0 series lead in the second round while the St. Louis Blues can even it up if they get that kind of performance again.
Yet it was Josh Manson, the trade deadline pickup of all trade deadline pickups, scoring the game-winning goal to give the Avalanche a 1-0 series lead after the Avs put a boat load of shots on Binnington. While Binnington tried his best to steal home-ice advantage, the Colorado defense did its part to limit dangerous chances on Darcy Kuemper.
"In my dreams, [I scored] like a one-hander or something," Manson said, laughing. "It's not about how I feel, it's about how the whole team feels. Seeing everybody come at me was the best part."
"I liked our game the whole night. I thought we were resilient there," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Obviously we made a mistake on the penalty kill. We changed four guys, gave them one that was too easy. It is what it is.
"We've talked to our team all year long about being resilient and being mentally tough, and we came out and got right back to our game. Didn't capitalize on the power play, but just kept doing what we were doing throughout the course of the 60 minutes, and eventually we felt like we'd have a chance and break them down and get the winner. Our guys believed it. They worked hard for it, and I felt like they earned it tonight."
Colorado, much like it did against Nashville, dominated offensive play. It was without a doubt a clinic, and could've been much worse had it not been for Binnington's heroics. So many 10-bell saves, so many saves that made you think it was 2019 all over again. And if you had the Blues moneyline in Game 1, I apologize for you.
The Blues got goals from Jordan Kyrou and Ryan O'Reilly, specifically Kyrou's late goal to tie it, but the Avalanche outshot St. Louis 13-0 in overtime. Once it got to the extra frame, there was nothing left in the tank for the Blues.
"I felt going into the game that we're right there, the way we've been playing," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "We need more guys to perform. That's really what it boils down to. And again, we've got to make more plays with the puck."
If you're the Blues, you have to feel good about Game 1. You also have to feel good that Binnington has stood on his head and gave you a chance to win. You also have to feel good about how well Binnington has played since replacing Ville Husso in the first round against Minnesota.
Now the Avalanche will try, for the second straight year, to take a 2-0 series lead in the second round while the St. Louis Blues can even it up if they get that kind of performance again.
Yet it was Josh Manson, the trade deadline pickup of all trade deadline pickups, scoring the game-winning goal to give the Avalanche a 1-0 series lead after the Avs put a boat load of shots on Binnington. While Binnington tried his best to steal home-ice advantage, the Colorado defense did its part to limit dangerous chances on Darcy Kuemper.
"In my dreams, [I scored] like a one-hander or something," Manson said, laughing. "It's not about how I feel, it's about how the whole team feels. Seeing everybody come at me was the best part."
"I liked our game the whole night. I thought we were resilient there," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Obviously we made a mistake on the penalty kill. We changed four guys, gave them one that was too easy. It is what it is.
"We've talked to our team all year long about being resilient and being mentally tough, and we came out and got right back to our game. Didn't capitalize on the power play, but just kept doing what we were doing throughout the course of the 60 minutes, and eventually we felt like we'd have a chance and break them down and get the winner. Our guys believed it. They worked hard for it, and I felt like they earned it tonight."
Colorado, much like it did against Nashville, dominated offensive play. It was without a doubt a clinic, and could've been much worse had it not been for Binnington's heroics. So many 10-bell saves, so many saves that made you think it was 2019 all over again. And if you had the Blues moneyline in Game 1, I apologize for you.
The Blues got goals from Jordan Kyrou and Ryan O'Reilly, specifically Kyrou's late goal to tie it, but the Avalanche outshot St. Louis 13-0 in overtime. Once it got to the extra frame, there was nothing left in the tank for the Blues.
"I felt going into the game that we're right there, the way we've been playing," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "We need more guys to perform. That's really what it boils down to. And again, we've got to make more plays with the puck."
If you're the Blues, you have to feel good about Game 1. You also have to feel good that Binnington has stood on his head and gave you a chance to win. You also have to feel good about how well Binnington has played since replacing Ville Husso in the first round against Minnesota.
Prediction
All of that being said, Colorado is just ridiculous right now. Cale Makar is the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe and the other guys are just killing worlds right now. I would normally hesitate to go with the home team twice in a row given how that game ended, but I can't bet against the Avs until they lose. Right now, it doesn't seem likely. Avalanche win 4-3
Betting trends
Blues are 3-5 the past three seasons when trailing in a playoff series.
Blues are 20-34 the past three seasons off a loss to a division opponent.
Avalanche are 10-3 the past three seasons when leading in a playoff series.
Avalanche are 10-5 this season off a five-game unbeaten streak.
Blues are 20-34 the past three seasons off a loss to a division opponent.
Avalanche are 10-3 the past three seasons when leading in a playoff series.
Avalanche are 10-5 this season off a five-game unbeaten streak.
Projected lines
Blues:
Brayden Schenn -- Ryan O'Reilly -- David Perron
Pavel Buchnevich -- Robert Thomas -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Brandon Saad -- Ivan Barbashev -- Jordan Kyrou
Alexei Toropchenko -- Tyler Bozak
Nick Leddy -- Colton Parayko
Calle Rosen -- Justin Faulk
Niko Mikkola -- Robert Bortuzzo
Scott Perunovich
Jordan Binnington
Avalanche:
Valeri Nichushkin -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nazem Kadri -- Artturi Lehkonen
Andre Burakovsky -- J.T. Compher -- Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Darren Helm -- Nico Sturm - Logan O'Connor
Devon Toews -- Cale Makar
Samuel Girard -- Josh Manson
Bowen Byram -- Erik Johnson
Darcy Kuemper
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
