Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Picks, Predictions, Odds
The Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche meet at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. on Tuesday night for Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, a best-of-seven series. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.
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Score Prediction
Avalanche 5, Predators 2
Best Bet
Avalanche -1.5 (-120)
Avalanche -0.5 (-105) 1st Period
Over 6.5 (-120)
NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE PREDICTIONS
Neither the Predators nor the Avalanche head into this game with much momentum. The Avalanche wrapped up the Central Division long ago, and never really seriously pursued the President's Trophy, ceding that award to the Florida Panthers. Colorado finished with six losses in the final seven games, including a 5-4 shootout loss in Denver on April 28.
The Predators will be without starting goaltender Juuse Saros for at least the first two games of the series due to a leg injury suffered April 26 in the Music City against the Calgary Flames. David Rittich and Connor Ingram have held down the fort, but those two netminders have yielded nine total goals in two games since Saros went down.
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NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING ODDS
NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING RESOURCES
- Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
- Matchup: Central
- Venue: Ball Arena
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- TV-Time: ESPN, 9:30 p.m. ET
NASHVILLE PREDATORS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 45-30-7
- ATS: 44-38
- O/U: 49-33
The Predators offense has been doing its part lately, going for two or more goals in the final eight games, and four or more goals in the final four outings of the regular season. Even with all of that offense, Nashville still won just once in the final five games. That's the bad news, but the good news is that the only win was a 5-4 shootout win in Denver on April 28 as the OVER connected.
The OVER has hit in five straight for the Predators, and seven of the previous eight outings. If Nashville is to have any success in Game 1, and in this series, it will have to continue its hot play on the power play. The Predators ranked sixth in the regular season with a 24.4% power-play percentage, while ranking a very ordinary 18th on the penalty kill at 79.2%.
COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 56-19-7
- ATS: 39-43
- O/U: 42-35-5
The Avalanche dropped six of the past seven, but were never in danger of losing the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference. They took it easy down the stretch, and there are concerns if Colorado can just flip the switch back on to play like the team which ran away with the Central Division. That's not always easy, but the good news for the Avs is that they'll have to face the likes of Rittich or Ingram, rather than Saros, who has the talent to steal a series. Saros is out until at least Game 3 at the earliest.
For the Avs, LW Gabriel Landeskog is considered probable for Tuesday's game, while C Nazem Kadri is more of a question mark due to what is believed to be a non-COVID related illness.
Colorado has dropped three in a row in this series, with the Avs winning 6-2 back on Nov. 27 in the first meeting of the season. The OVER cashed in all four meetings this season, with a total of 33 goals, or 8.3 combined goals per game in the four outings.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE CONCLUSION
The Predators were already going to be huge underdogs in this series with or without Saros, as the Avalanche finished the regular season with 119 points, three back of the Florida Panthers for the most in the NHL. They were also eight points clear of the Calgary Flames for the most points in the Western Conference.
While that's all well and good, the Avs have taken their eyes off the prize in the final couple of weeks, losing six of the previous seven. And, that includes a 5-4 shootout loss last week to the Predators, a team which has beaten the Avalanche in three in a row. It's tempting to take Nashville based on all of that information, but I just don't trust Rittich, and I think we get another lopsided Game 1, similar to what we saw in most of Monday's series openers. The OVER is the best bet here, cashing in all four meetings this season. Colorado could challenge to hit the OVER on its own.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE BETTING TRENDS
- Predators are 1-4 in the past five games overall
- Predators are 1-3 in the past four road games.
- Predators are 2-7 in the past nine as an underdog.
- Avalanche are 1-6 in the past seven games overall.
- Avalanche are 1-4 in the past five as a favorite.
- Avalanche are 7-2 in the past nine home games.
- OVER is 5-0 in the past five games for the Predators.
- OVER is 14-2 in the past 16 road games for the Preds.
- OVER is 8-3 in the past 11 as an underdog for the Preds.
- OVER is 4-2 in the past six home games for the Avs.
- Underdog is 8-1 in the past nine meetings.
- OVER is 4-0 in the past four meetings.
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