St Louis vs Colorado, Game 2 | Stanley Cup Playoffs Expert Analysis

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The Colorado Avalanche remain the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup and they are also heavy favorites on the NHL odds to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series against the visiting St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

How to Bet Blues at Avalanche NHL Hockey Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 9:30 PM ET
Where: Ball Arena
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NHL Lines: Avalanche -225, Blues +200 (total 6.5)

Why Bet on St. Louis?

The Blues played very well in Game 1 but lost 3-2 in overtime. Jordan Kyrou scored a power-play goal at 16:46 of the third period to tie the game and push the contest to overtime. The Blues were outshot 13-0 in the overtime period though, so they didn’t do nearly enough to take advantage of that opportunity.

Ryan O’Reilly had the Blues’ first goal to extend his playoff goal streak to five games. Only two players in the past 20 years have posted a longer run: Brayden Point (nine in 2021 with Tampa Bay) and Martin Havlat (six in 2006 with Ottawa). O’Reilly scored his sixth career game-opening goal in the postseason with the Blues. Only three players in franchise history have more: Brett Hull (12), Vladimir Tarasenko (9) and Frank St. Marseille (7).

Defenseman Justin Faulk notched a power-play assist, three hits, three blocked shots, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating. Faulk is up to five helpers, 17 hits, 10 blocked shots, 17 shots on net, 10 PIM and a minus-2 rating through seven playoff outings. Brayden Schenn posted an assist, two hits, two blocked shots and two penalty minutes. Schenn grabbed a Cale Makar turnover and fed O’Reilly for the opening goal 6:25 into the first period. Through seven playoff games, Schenn has distributed four assists in a top-six role. The 30-year-old forward has added 10 shots on net, 25 hits, 10 PIM, seven blocked shots and a plus-1 rating.

Jordan Binnington stopped 51 of 54 shots in the tough-luck loss. In overtime, the Blues failed to register a shot, while Binnington stopped the first 12 he faced before Josh Manson beat him. Binnington bested his playoff career high in saves (46) and became the fourth different goaltender in Blues history to make 50-plus saves in a postseason contest. He joined Curtis Joseph (61 in Game 1 of 1993 DF & 57 in Game 2 of 1993 DF), Ed Staniowski (54 in Game 2 of 1976 PR) and Jake Allen (51 in Game 1 of 2017 R1).

Defensemen Marco Scandella and Torey Krug remained out injured in Game 1 and are questionable for Game 2.

Why Bet on Colorado?

Josh Manson, not exactly known for his offense, scored 8:02 into overtime to give the Avalanche a 3-2 win against the Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference second round on Tuesday. Manson scored his first career goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the top of the right face-off circle with a shot over the shoulder of Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.

Manson has played 27 postseason games with the Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks, who traded him to Colorado on March 15. HE became the fourth defenseman in Avalanche/Nordiques history to score an overtime goal in the postseason and second to do so in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs following Cale Makar in Game 2 of the First Round against the Predators.

“In my dreams, [I scored] like a one-hander or something,” Manson said, laughing. “It’s not about how I feel, it’s about how the whole team feels. Seeing everybody come at me was the best part.”

Gabriel Landeskog registered two assists in in the win and is up to three goals and eight points in five playoff games this year. Samuel Girard and Valeri Nichushkin each found the back of the net for Colorado. In Girard’s case it was his first goal of the 2022 playoffs and his second goal in 42 career postseason games.

Nichushkin extended his playoff goal streak to three games. He had the series-clinching marker in Game 4 of the First Round. Mikko Rantanen recorded his 40th career playoff assist and became the seventh player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to reach the mark. He joins: Joe Sakic (104), Peter Forsberg (101), Peter Stastny (57), Sandis Ozolinsh (47), Nathan MacKinnon (43) and Milan Hejduk (42).

Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 of 25 shots in his return after missing the final two games of Round 1 with an eye injury. Colorado improved to 5-0 to start the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs after also winning each of its first six contests to start the 2021 postseason. The Avalanche became the fourth different team in NHL history to record a playoff-opening win streak of five-plus games in consecutive years and the first since the North Stars in 1980 (5 GP) and 1981 (6 GP).

The Avalanche have won each of their past eight postseason outings against the Blues dating to Game 4 of the 2001 Conference Finals.