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!
St. Louis Blues @ Colorado Avalanche – 8.00PM ET
This series could all be over tonight, if the Colorado Avalanche get the win in front of their home crowd against the St. Louis Blues. The series currently stands at 3-1, after the Avalanche got a 6-3 victory in Game 4. The Avalanche will be looking to win the series in Game 5, and put their feet up for a bit before the Conference Finals.
Marko Nadin
The Colorado Avalanche are on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference Finals and there is nothing the St. Louis Blues will be able to stop them from doing that tonight. Colorado dropped Game 2 at home, which was their first and still the only loss in these playoffs, but then dominated the following two games in St. Louis won by three-goal differential in both of them. The Avalanche are averaging almost 4.5 goals per game in the playoffs and the Blues will feel that tonight.
Colorado has won 7 of 8 games in this season’s playoffs, 20 of the last 27 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game and 7 of the last 8 games against a team with a winning record. St. Louis has won 7 of the last 10 road games, 10 of the last 15 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game and 9 of the last 13 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-240)
Tony Battalio
This series has been one of the best of the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs. As these two Central Division rivals have battled back and forth in four great games. However, it is the Colorado Avalanche who have been pulling out all the stops to get victories as they currently lead this series 3-1. They are only one win away from getting to the Western Conference Finals and facing the winner of the series between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. It would be the Avalanche who have home ice advantage in that series and the Stanley Cup Finals if they were to make it.
The St. Louis Blues have their backs against the wall entering Game 5 in Denver. As they find themselves in a must win situation to keep their season alive and to force a Game 6 in this series. They have been one of the most consistent teams throughout the entire National Hockey League season and now they will need to show that consistency more than ever. However, I don’t see it happening as I look for the Colorado Avalanche to end this series here in Game 5.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-240)
Jeffery Thomas
The Colorado Avalanche had a very successful trip to St. Louis, winning Games 3 and 4 and are now on the brink of making the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years. Interestingly enough, Colorado’s general manager Joe Sakic was the captain of that team that lost that series to Detroit back in 2002. A win at home here in Game 5 seems very likely as Denver is where the Avs only lost six times in regulation.
They’ve beaten St. Louis by three goals each of the last two games and that correlates with Jordan Binnington going out for the series. Before the injury, the Avs were averaging just 2 goals a game but against Ville Husso, they are now up to 5 a game. This is a matchup nightmare and Wednesday night is when the Blues’ season will be put to bed.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-240)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
