Colorado Avalanche (-450) vs Nashville Predators (+360)
PICK: Game 1 and 2, Colorado ML and Over; Nashville ML in Game 3
Colorado is the odds on favorite to not only to win their first round series but they are also the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado has had a tough time getting past the second round these couple of years and Nashville will put them to the test. As seen with this season series record, Nashville can beat Colorado and in fact the Predators beat the Avs in the first Round in 2018. Nashville has also struggled early in the playoffs not making it past the second Round these past 4 years.
Can Colorado’s revamped defense with the high powered and deep offense keep enough goals out of the net to take first round win? MacKinnon, Rantanen, Kadri, Nichushkin, Burakovsky and a third line that can also put goals in the net will keep Nashville busy. Defensively Makar (+48), Toews (+52), Johnson, E (+22), Johnson, J (+5) have ridiculous plus/minus numbers for the year. Backed up in net with Kuemper with a 2.54 GA average and .921 Save Percentage. Colorado will play tough at home, winning 78% of their games there.
Nashville isn’t as stacked but they somehow continue to get it done. Duchene has tallied 43 goals this year and Forsberg is one goal behind with 42. Second line center Johansen and breakout rookie Tanner Jeannot along with Yakov Trenin will add to the scoring. Defensive stalwart as well as goal scorer Roman Josi, along with Ekholm and Carrier are responsible for keeping the shots down to protect Juuse Saros and his 2.64 GA/.918 SV.
Regular Season Series: Nashville 3-1
Nov 27th: NASH 2 (Rittich) @ COL 6 (Johansson)
Dec 16th: COL 2 (Francouz) @ NASH 5 (Saros)
Jan 11th: COL 4 (Kuemper) @ NASH 5 (Saros) (OT)
Apr 28th: NASH 5 (Rittich) @ COL 4 (Kuemper) (SO)
Colorado Numbers
Home Wins 78% (32-9); Away Wins 59% (24-17)
Home Favorite 78% (32-9); Away Favorite 62% (21-13)
Home 56% Over (22O/17U); Away 54% Over (21O/18U)
Home v Central 69% (9-4); Away v Central 46% (6-7)
Home Favorite +$1,055; Away Favorite -$299
Home PL 54% (22-19); Away PL 44% (18-23)
Nashville Numbers
Home Wins 61% (25-16); Away Wins 49% (20-21)
Home Dog 46% (6-7); Away Dog 50% (13-13)
Home 54% Under (22U/19O); Away 73% Over (30O/11U)
Home v Central 69% (9-4); Away v Central 54% (7-6)
Home Dog -$45; Away Dog +$636
Home PL 51% (21-20); Away PL 56% (23-18)
