Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 Picks and Predictions: Offensive Breakout Expected

After a huge road win for the Blues in Game 2, the series now swings to St. Louis. While we like the Avs to win, our NHL betting picks are expecting a downtick in goaltending as these two offenses begin to settle into the series — pointing us to the Over.

May 21, 2022 • 11:38 ET • 4 min read
Mikko Rantanen Colorado Avalanche NHL
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

After a stunning Game 2 victory, the St. Louis Blues will try to keep their momentum going when they host the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Enterprise Center on Saturday night.

The Blues still find themselves in the underdog role despite stealing a game on the road on Thursday to tie the series. Do the bookmakers have it right with the Avalanche as solid favorites?

Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Avalanche vs Blues on Saturday, May 21.

Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Avalanche opened as consensus -161 favorites, and they’ve been bet up at least 10 cents at the majority of sportsbooks. The total has held firm at 6.5 goals since Friday.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 predictions

Predictions made on 5/21/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 info

Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2022
Puck drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

Avalanche vs Blues series odds

Avalanche: -320
Blues: +250

Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 betting preview

Key injuries

Avalanche: Andrew Cogliano C (Probable), Darcy Kuemper G (Probable).
Blues: Torey Krug D (Questionable), Marco Scandella D (Questionable).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Avalanche vs Blues head-to-head record

Avalanche: 6-4 SU, 37 goals for.
Blues: 4-5-1 SU, 28 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 22-8-2 in the Blues’ last 32 games a home underdog. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Blues.

Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

The Avalanche losing Game 2 was stunning, but bettors shouldn’t expect lightning to strike twice Saturday night.

Colorado has uncharacteristically scored just four goals through the first two games of this series. St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington has been standing on his head, stopping 81 of the 85 shots he’s seen so far. It seems like an unsustainable pace for a netminder that had a .901 save percentage in the regular season. 

The Avs were fourth in the regular season in goals per game (3.8) and scored 11 goals in three head-to-head matchups with the Blues. Star defenseman Cale Makar is one of many Colorado skaters who have surprisingly failed to get it going in this series through two games. Despite taking nine shots on goal, Makar has yet to find the scoresheet and has played to a minus-2 rating. This seems due to change soon.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis offense has been incredibly top-heavy, with David Perron, Ryan O’Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Jordan Kyrou combining for 23 of their club’s 28 goals. That kind of one-dimensional attack is much easier to stop for netminder Darcy Kuemper (1.98 GAA, .923 SV% in five playoff starts) to stop. 

The trends say take the Avalanche, as the road team is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these clubs. The Avs are also 7-2 in their last nine meetings with the Blues, and 40-11 in their last 51 games after scoring two or fewer goals or in their previous tilt. St. Louis is 3-8 in its last 11 playoff games as an underdog. 

Prediction: Avalanche moneyline (-165 at DraftKings)

Over/Under analysis

Though we’ve seen only 10 goals through over six periods of play, the total is holding firm at 6.5 goals for this matchup. Several trends indicate that this series’ first Over is coming on Saturday.

The Blues have gone 10-3-1 to the Over in their last 14 games after allowing two or fewer goals in their previous tilt. The Over is also 15-5-1 in St. Louis’ last 21 games when their opponent scores two or fewer goals in their previous game and 22-10-1 in their last 33 overall.

The Over is 6-2 in the Avalanche’s last eight games following a home loss of three or more goals.

Both squads have run an effective power play all year long, with Colorado clicking at 24% in the regular season (seventh in the NHL), and the Blues firing at 27% (second). That success has carried over into the playoffs, with the Avs cashing in on eight of their first 21 power-play chances (38.1%), and St. Louis going 10-for-29 (34.5%), having scored in each of their first eight playoff games.

The Avalanche penalty kill is not off to a great start in these playoffs, surrendering five goals in only 16 chances (31.5%). St. Louis has surrendered five man-advantage goals, but in 29 opponent power plays (17.2%). 

Both offenses have also generated plenty of shots on goal, with 79 coming in Game 1, and 63 in Game 2. Kuemper and Binnington can’t be expected to play brilliantly forever. 

Prediction: Over 6.5 (-115 at PointsBet)

Best bet

An Avalanche win and the Over will be hard to attain without some improved play from Colorado’s top forwards. Gabriel Landeskog has a goal and two assists through two games, but Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Nazem Kadri all have yet to find the back of the net against Binnington.

This trio – which tallied 96 goals in the regular season – is bound to start producing in this series. MacKinnon had five goals in four games against the Predators, so it’s not like he’s been a shrinking violet. Rantanen has no goals this postseason but has only taken 12 shots. He’s been dishing out the tallies instead, accumulating seven assists. 

It’s been goals galore when these Central Division rivals have gotten together in the Gateway City, as they’ve gone 6-1-1 to the Over in their last eight meetings in St. Louis.

Pick: Over 6.5 (-115 at PointsBet)

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