We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL regular season and first round of the playoffs, but now we are entering the second round, with a spot in the Conference Finals up for grabs. We are sure to see the cracking playoffs continue in Round 2, and with the Lightning still alive, many high quality teams will be looking to stop them from winning the Stanley Cup for a third time in a row. But before we get to the Stanley Cup Final, teams must make it through the second round.
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Look below to find our free NHL picks for the one Round 2 game on today’s schedule!
Colorado Avalanche @ St. Louis Blues – 8.00PM ET
What a Game 5 that was, and the St. Louis Blues are still alive, thanks to an overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche, 5-4. Game 5 was the Avalanche’s first chance to win the series, and now with the series at 3-2, the Avalanche would love to get the win tonight, to avoid going to seven games.
Marko Nadin
The Colorado Avalanche missed the opportunity to close out the series in Game 5 and advance to the Western Conference Finals, and now will have to go back to St. Louis with the pressure on. The Blues managed to win 5-4 in overtime despite the fact that Colorado had a 3-0 lead in the middle of the second period. This was only the second Avalanche loss in the playoffs and how costly it would be, we will see tonight. The Avalanche are still the better team in the series but with the momentum shifted on the Blues side, I will pick St. Louis to win tonight, tie the series at 3 wins apiece and go back to Colorado for the decisive Game 7.
St. Louis has won 36 of the last 53 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game, 28 of the last 39 games against Western Conference opponents and 5 of the last 6 games played after one day rest. Colorado has won 10 of the last 12 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game, 7 of the last 9 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game and the last 4 road games.
Marko’s NHL Pick: St. Louis Blues (+140)
Tony Battalio
The Colorado Avalanche will now be looking to bounce back after they blew a huge lead in Game 5 of this Western Conference Semifinals series against the St. Louis Blues. They are only one game away from reaching the Western Conference Finals and facing the Edmonton Oilers. They have been the best team in the Western Conference all season long and they have a chance to prove it if they can avoid a Game 7 and close out this series here in Game 6 in St. Louis.
The St. Louis Blues just kept fighting, as they staged a furious comeback to get the win in overtime to force Game 6 here at home. Now they will have to repeat the process all over again if they want to force a winner take all Game 7 back in Denver on Sunday night. The Blues have been incredibly consistent throughout the entire 2021-22 National Hockey League season and now they will really have to step up to the plate. However, as for the result of this one, I just can’t see it happening as I look for the Colorado Avalanche to end this series for good.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-170)
Jeffery Thomas
The Colorado Avalanche let a real opportunity slip through their fingers in Game 5 when they had the St. Louis Blues on the verge of elimination but couldn’t finish the job. The Avs were up 3-0 four minutes into the second period but slowly let the Blues get back into the game and it culminated in them tying the game up with five minutes left in regulation. Colorado then had the go-ahead goal two minutes later but couldn’t hold on to that lead and gave up the overtime-forcing goal with less than a minute left.
The Blues rode their desperation and momentum to an overtime goal to give them the win and they now live to fight another day. It sucks the Avs weren’t able to give their fans that moment to celebrate on Wednesday but I think they wrap things up on the road Friday. Colorado has won five straight games in St. Louis and I’m sure they are heated after blowing that last game. They are the much better team and have been dictating the play all series, so I like them to get the job done and advance to the Conference Finals.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Moneyline (3-way) – Colorado Avalanche (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
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