Welcome back to NHL Predictions, April 26th edition! Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This is the middle set of NHL Predictions for April 26th, featuring the Colorado Avalanche vs the St Louis Blues.
NHL Predictions Featuring Colorado Avalanche vs St Louis Blues
Colorado Avalanche vs St Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 5 – 2 Blues
The Avalanche have dominated this series winning five of seven. This game has importance for both teams. The Avs want to overtake the Vegas Golden Knights to take the Western Division and the Blues are fighting for their playoff lives. The Avs have been winners of 10 of 12 and are starting to look like the Stanley Cup favourites that many make them out to be. With Nathan MacKinnon pacing them with 27 points in his last 15 games, he’s almost willing his team to be on top in the Western Division standings. He’s one amazing player. Young defenceman Cale Makar isn’t far behind MacKinnon with 19 points in his last 15 games. What a duo.
The Blues have just got to win games. The problem is they have tough opponents to face going into the last 11 games on their schedule. They face the surging Minnesota Wild five more times and the Vegas Golden Knights twice. That’s after this game against the high-flying Avs. They just have three ‘easy’ games against the Anaheim Ducks (2) and Los Angeles Kings (1). While the Wild have clinched a playoff spot, that doesn’t mean they will just give up competing. The Blue may be singing the blues after they finish this schedule against really tough opponents. If Ryan O’Reilly plays as well as he did Saturday, the Avs will have their hands full.
Prediction: Avalanche pull this one off in OT, 2-1
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Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-Head: Oilers 2 – 5 Jets
The Winnipeg Jets may be licking their chops in eagerness to face the Oilers again with their 5-2 advantage in the series match-up. The Edmonton Oilers have two games in hand on the Jets and are within one point of overtaking them for second place in the North Division. They’ve won six of their last 10 and are of course an offensive dynamo. Who can stop Connor McDavid (77 points) or Leon Draisaitl (64 points)? Well, the Jets need to if they wish to maintain their slim lead over the powerful Oilers. This will be a close game, even with the high-scoring potential.
The Jets are not offensive wimps with Mark Scheifele collecting 54 points in 47 games himself. It could come down to defence, instead of a high-scoring affair. The two teams seem evenly matched in most categories, so this game should be a nail-biter. The Jets could get some breathing room with a win, and the Oilers want to move up in the standings. It could come down to a shootout, and then who gets the advantage? The Jets seem to know how to beat the Oilers, so they must have the advantage here.
Prediction: Jets win this one 3-2 in a shootout
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