The Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche meet for Game 2 of their 1st-round Western Conference playoff series Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Predators vs. Avalanche odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Predators were forced to start G David Rittich in Game 1, as G Juuse Saros (lower-body injury) was ruled out for at least the first 2 games. It was a disaster. He allowed a goal just 2:20 into the game on the power play and after he gave up 5 goals in the first 15:04, he was pulled in favor of G Connor Ingram.
The Avs had no such issues in the crease, and the offense piled up 7 goals in the home victory. Three of the team’s goals came via special teams, with 2 on the power play and 1 of the shorthanded variety.
Predators at Avalanche odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Predators +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Avalanche -380 (bet $380 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Predators +1.5 (+115) | Avalanche -1.5 (-145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -140 | U: +112)
Predators at Avalanche projected goalies
Connor Ingram (1-2-0, 3.71 GAA, .879 SV%, 0 SO – regular season) vs. Darcy Kuemper (37-12-4, 2.54 GAA, .921 SV%, 5 SO – regular season)
Ingram came on and turned aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced in relief of Rittich. This will be Ingram’s first NHL postseason start, but he can’t do much worse than Rittich did in the series opener. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Kuemper was rarely tested and stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced. By the time he faced any difficult shots, he was already staked to a big lead. His win in Game 1 was actually his first in 3 meetings with Nashville this season after going 0-0-2 with a 4.23 GAA and .870 SV% across 2 regular-season starts.
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Predators at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 6, Predators 2
Money line
The Avalanche (-380) are the heaviest favorites of the postseason so far, and will cost you nearly four times your potential return. You can’t do that, though.
AVOID, and look to the puck line instead.
Against the spread
The AVALANCHE -1.5 (-145) are still a little on the expensive side, but the much better play. The Predators have too much uncertainty in between the pipes, as Ingram or Rittich are just too shaky right now, and they do not have the offensive weapons to keep up with the very deep Avs.
Over/Under
OVER 6.5 (-140) is the play here. Colorado took care of the Over themselves in Game 1, and nearly did it in the first period.
The Over has cashed in 6 outings in a row for Nashville, while going 7-1 in its last 8 contests as a road underdog. The Over is 14-5 in the past 19 as a playoff favorite for Colorado, too, while going 4-1 in its last five as a home fave.
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