Boy is it actually arduous to make a case for the Nashville Predators of their Spherical 1 sequence towards the Colorado Avalanche. This sequence already regarded like a big mismatch on paper, however it’s a fair wider one now that Nashville’s largest place of energy has changed into a weak spot with the harm to goaltender Juuse Saros.
With Saros out, the one actual argument that you would be able to make for the Predators on this sequence is that they get extremely fortunate. And whereas that notion is among the issues that makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs so nice — something can occur — it’s not the kind of angle you need to guess on.
And even when they do get the lion’s share of the puck luck on this encounter, it in all probability gained’t be sufficient for Nashville to stay with Colorado over the course of a best-of-7. Any crew can win on any night time in hockey, however asking Nashville to do it over and over is a bit outlandish.
As for Recreation 1, the percentages inform the story. Colorado is at present sitting as a -330 favourite, which provides the Avalanche an implied win chance of almost 77 p.c.
And it’s arduous to argue with these odds.
With Saros out, the Predators will now want a below-average goaltender to maintain Nashville within the sport towards one of many league’s most dynamic assaults. Colorado ended up ending fourth in objectives per sport and 5-on-5 scoring, however the Avs additionally handled a litany of harm points to key gamers from Opening Night time on. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri all missed appreciable time this season.
Now totally wholesome, we might lastly see this crew hit its ceiling — which is a scary proposition contemplating it simply completed second general this common season.
And whereas Colorado’s offense deserves the hype, this isn't a one-dimensional crew. The Avalanche completed contained in the top-10 in objectives towards and anticipated objectives allowed, exhibiting that they aren’t simply an offensive powerhouse.
Colorado ought to have its method with the Predators at 5-on-5 and with David Rittich backing up a pedestrian protection, it’s doubtless that, ought to the Avs win, it comes by a number of objectives.
Backing Colorado on the puckline at -130 ought to repay extra typically than the percentages suggest and taking a shot on the Avs to attain over 4.5 objectives at +130 additionally appears a worthy guess.
The Wager: Colorado -1.5 (-130); Colorado crew complete O4.5 (+130)
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