Avalanche vs. Blues NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Dec. 31

Two teams at opposite ends of the Western Conference standings will face off when the Colorado Avalanche (29-2-7, first place) host the St. Louis Blues (15-17-8, 13th) on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET. Avalanche (-355) versus Blues (+280) looks lopsided, according to the moneyline odds.

Colorado won 5-2 at home its last time out on Dec. 29 against the Los Angeles Kings. Nathan MacKinnon (one goal and one assist) and Brock Nelson (one goal and one assist) each had two points for the Avalanche.

St. Louis played at home in its last game on Dec. 29, and lost 4-2 against the Buffalo Sabres. Six Blues players recorded one point each in that matchup, including Otto Stenberg (one assist) and Robby Fabbri (one assist).

Before watching this matchup, here is a look at which squad we predict will bring home the victory in Wednesday's action on the ice.

Avalanche vs. Blues Predictions & Pick

For the upcoming contest between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, per Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Blues 4 - Avalanche 3
• Pick OU: Over 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 6.91 goals)
  

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Avalanche vs. Blues Moneylines

Grab a look below at the most up-to-date moneylines for the Avalanche-Blues game.

• Favorite: Avalanche (-355)
• Underdog: Blues (+280)

Avalanche Betting Insights

• In the 37 times this season the Avalanche have been favored on the moneyline, they have finished 29-8 in those games.
• Colorado has had four games with moneyline odds of -355 or shorter and won each time.
• The implied moneyline probability in this game says the Avalanche have a 78.0% chance to win.
• In 16 of 38 matches this season, Colorado and its opponent have combined for more than 6.5 goals.

Blues Betting Insights

• The Blues have been an underdog in 22 games this season, and won 12 (54.5%).
• St. Louis has not been a bigger underdog this season than the +280 moneyline in this game.
• The implied probability of a win by the Blues, based on the moneyline, is 26.3%.
• St. Louis' games this season have had more than 6.5 goals 17 of 40 times.

Avalanche Key Stats

• Colorado is the top-scoring team in the NHL, with 152 total goals (four per game, on seven assists per contest).
• Defensively, the Avalanche are the stingiest squad in NHL play, conceding 83 total goals (only 2.2 per game).
• It has a league-best goal differential of +69.
• The 20 power-play goals the Avalanche have recorded this season (on 129 power-play chances) rank 20th in the NHL.
• Colorado ranks 29th in the league with a 15.5% power-play conversion rate.
• The one shorthanded goal the Avalanche have scored this season rank 26th among NHL teams.
• Colorado kills 85.32% of opponent power plays, the top penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Colorado wins 50.4% of its faceoffs to rank 14th in the NHL.
• The Avalanche have an 11.6% shooting percentage as a team, which ranks seventh in the league.

Blues Key Stats

• St. Louis has 100 goals this season (2.5 per game), 30th in the league.
• The Blues allow 3.4 goals per game (135 in total), 29th in the league.
• Its -35 goal differential ranks 32nd in the league.
• The Blues have 19 power-play goals (25th in NHL) on 103 chances.
• St. Louis' power-play percentage (18.45) puts the team 20th in the league.
• In terms of shorthanded goals, the Blues have three.
• St. Louis' has the 25th-ranked penalty-kill percentage (77.45%).
• St. Louis wins 51.1% of faceoffs, 12th-ranked in the NHL.
• The Blues' 10% shooting percentage is 23rd in the league.