Welcome back to NHL predictions, where each day we take a look at all the games going on. We analyze them and give our predictions for what will happen and the final outcome. Today, there is only one game on the NHL schedule. That would be the St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche. Let’s preview that game and all it has in store for us.
NHL Predictions with St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche
St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche
The St. Louis Blues look to stave off elimination tonight. They find themselves down in a 3-1 hole after dropping both games at home. Now, they will look to do the impossible and win three in a row against an Avs team that has had their number. Ville Husso will need to be great like he was for a solid part of this season if they are to have a chance in this game. The Avs have shown multiple times in this series that their offence can come in waves. However, the Blues have a deep team that can step up too. They will need all lines rolling tonight, with the likes of Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchenvich, Ryan O’Reilly, and Vladimir Tarasenko playing at their best.
Kadri Stepping Up
For the Avs, this series has been all about Nazem Kadri. Unlike last season where the storyline was him getting an eight-game suspension, Game 4 saw him step up and lead the team to victory. Kadri had three goals and an assist for a four-point night. He was public enemy number one in St. Louis due to an unfortunate collision that knocked Jordan Binnington out of the series. However, that led to a very unfortunate few people taking things way too far and directing racist comments and even threats to Kadri and his family. He has spoken about it and seems to want to focus on hockey while acknowledging there is no place for that in our game.
Prediction
Overall, the Avalanche are just the better team. St. Louis has put up a fight, but this has shades of last year where Colorado swept the Blues. The scariest part about this Avs team may just be that Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen likely have another gear to go. MacKinnon has a solid nine points in eight games, but he has shown even more in the past. Rantanen has 10 points, but four of his five points in this series have been secondary assists or an empty-net goal. All points count, but he has another level he can rise to as well. It’s what makes Colorado so dangerous.
Prediction: Colorado wins 4-3.
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