Colorado Avalanche Vs. Nashville Predators (5/7/22) Betting Odds, Prediction, Line Combination, Starting Goalies

By Scott Steinberg | May 06, 2022, 10:19pm

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Defenseman Cale Makar scored at 8:31 of overtime lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators in Game Two of their first round series in Denver on Thursday. The Avalanche are up 2-0 over the Predators in the Western Conference best of seven series.

Colorado is the favorite to win the 2021-22 Stanley Cup at +275; the Avalanche have won two championships since moving from Quebec to Colorado in 1995. The Avalanche haven’t been to the conference finals since the 2001-02 season. The Predators are +20000 to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history; they won the Western Conference in 2016-17 but lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Colorado Avalanche Vs. Nashville Predators Betting Odds

Colorado is listed at -5000 to win the first round series vs. Nashville as they lead the series 2-0 heading into Game Three. The Avalanche are 10-1 in their last 11 Conference Quarterfinals games. Colorado is 8-2 in their last 10 playoff games as a favorite. Over is 4-1 in the Avalanche’s last five Conference Quarterfinals contests. The Predators are listed at +2200 to win the series against the Avalanche heading into Game Three. Nashville is 0-4 in their last four playoff games as an underdog. The Predators are 0-5 in their last five Conference Quarterfinals games. Over is 4-1 in Nashville’s last five playoff games as an underdog.

Colorado Avalanche Analysis

Mikko Rantanen led the Avalanche in scoring this season with 92 points (36 goals and 56 assists) while being an impressive +35. He had a team leading 16 power play goals and scored two game winning goals. He’s +2000 to win the Conn Smythe Award. Nathan MacKinnon had 88 points (32 goals and 56 asssists) in 65 games this season. A +22 on the year, he scored 27 points on the power play (seven goals and 20 assist) along with five game winning goals. In the Game Two win over Nashville, Colorado’s number 29 scored a goal. After two playoff games, MacKinnon is the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy at +950. Nazem Kadri finished his 13^th season in the NHL with the highest single scoring output of his career with 87 points (28 goals and 59 assists). In 2021-22 he was tied for the team lead in game winning goals with six while also tallying eight goals on the power play. Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche captain who was out since March 10 due to knee surgery returned to the lineup against the Predators. Despite playing 51 games, he finished the season third on the Avalanche in goals with 30. In the first two games of the series against the Predators he has two points.

Cale Makar was the second leading scorer among defensemen this season with 86 points; leading with 28 goals. In his third season, he concluded the regular season second in the NHL in plus/minus at +48 and averaged 25:40 of ice time per game. Makar is listed at +1300 to win the 2021-22 Conn Smythe Award second only behind his teammate Nathan MacKinnon. Devon Toews had 57 points this year (13 goals and 44 assists). In his second season with Colorado, he was tops in the NHL in plus/minus at +52.

In his first season in Colorado, Darcy Kuemper started 57 games for the Avalanche this year. He went 37-12-4 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.54 GAA. In Game Two against the Predators, Kuemper made 25 saves in the overtime victory. Kuemper is +2000 to win the Conn Smythe Award after the first two games of the postseason.

Nashville Predators Analysis

Matt Duchene, a former Avalanche center was the Predators second leading scorer with 86 points (43 goals and 43 points). He was a +6 in 2021, scoring a team leading 16 power play goals. Duchene was tied for second on the club in game winning goals with six. In the first two games against Colorado this postseason, he’s scored two goals. Filip Forsberg the most dynamic and creative player in Nashville’s lineup. This season he scored 84 points (42 goals and 42 assists) in 69 games. Forsberg led the Predators in game winning goals this year with eight and scored 10 goals on the power play. Mikael Granlund finished the 2021-22 season second on the team in assists with 53; he totaled 64 points. On the power play he scored 28 points (three goals and 25 assists) this campaign. In 55 career playoff games he’s scored 29 points (11 goals and 18 assists). Through two playoff games this season, Granlund has two assists.

Roman Josi, the Predators captain was the leading scorer among defensemen (and the Predators) this season with 96 points; leading with 73 assists. In his 11^th season, he concluded the regular season a +13 while averaging 25:33 of ice time per game. Josi has an assist in the first two games of this year’s postseason. Mattias Ekholm was a +14 in 76 games this season. He totaled 31 points on the year (six goals and 25 assists). The blueliner blocked 96 shots and delivered 79 hits in 2021-22.

Connor Ingram, who started three games in the regular season (with an .879 save percentage), made 49 saves in his first NHL playoff start in Game Two against the Avalanche. Ingram became the first rookie goalie to start a playoff game for the Predators. Nashville coaches and players are certainly hoping for the return of number one goalie Juuse Saros in Game Three.

Colorado Avalanche Vs. Nashville Predators Picks & Prediction

The Avalanche are scoring 3.8 goals per game, fourth in the league. Defensively Colorado is allowing 2.8 goals per game, ranked ninth overall. Under is 4-1 in the Avalanche’s last five playoff games as a favorite. The Avalanche are 19-7 in their last 26 Saturday games. Nashville is scoring 3.2 goals per game, ranking them 12^th in the NHL. On the defensive side, the Predators are allowing three goals per game which is 17^th in the NHL. Nashville is 1-5 in their last six games as an underdog. Over is 3-1-1 in the Predators last five Conference Quarterfinals games.

I expect Nashville to get a lift from their home crowd in Game Three, but Colorado is the superior club and will win on Saturday 4-2; over 1.5 goals, but the team’s combing for under 6.5 goals.

Colorado Avalanche Vs. Nashville Predators Starting Goalies & Line Combination

Scott Steinberg

Scott has been a sports fan since he received a New York Mets jacket as a toddler. He’s been playing fantasy baseball and football for over 20 years, dating back to Frank Thomas being one of his first fantasy baseball picks. As a professional, he has covered the NFL, MLB, NCAAF, and NCAAB and is looked to as the go-to guy for fantasy sports amongst family, friends, and co-workers.