Steve Starr
- BetOnline has point spreads, money lines and game totals for the sole NHL Stanley Cup Playoff game on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
- Colorado took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Blues with a 6-3 victory in Game 4 on Monday
- The Lightning swept Florida to become only the third franchise in NHL history to win at least 10 consecutive playoff series
With the Tampa Bay Lightning’s four-game sweep of the Florida Panthers on Monday, there is only one Stanley Cup Playoff matchup on the menu tonight. The Colorado Avalanche can secure their first Western Conference Final appearance in 20 years by defeating the St. Louis Blues in Game 5.
Let’s check the odds and preview Wednesday’s National Hockey League action. Here’s also where you can find the top betting sites for NHL hockey in 2022 and smart wagering tips in our 2022 Stanley Cup betting guide.
NHL Playoff Games- Wednesday, May 25
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| St. Louis Blues | +1½ (-116) | +218 | Ov 6.5 (-110) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -1½ (-104) | -245 | Un 6.5 (+100) |
Avalanche vs Blues
Talk about adding insult to injury. After crashing Jordan Binnington’s crease and knocking him out of the second-round series, super-pest Nazem Kadri scored a hat-trick against the Blues’ Game 4 replacement Ville Husso to give his Avalanche a 6-3 victory. (That’s sure to teach all the St. Louis-area racists who sent the Avalanche forward death threats on social media following Game 3.)
Now with a commanding 3-1 series lead, Jared Bednar’s club is just one victory away from making the franchise’s first appearance in the Western Conference Final since 2002.
David Perron has been fined $5,000 for his cross-check on Nazem Kadri. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/iimTkBpSwn
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 24, 2022
Colorado is a heavy -245 moneyline favorite to close the series at home in Game 5 and about even money (-104) to cover the 1.5-goal spread.
At this point, it’s hard to imagine the 2019 Cup champs rallying to extend the series. Craig Berube’s squad has come unglued since the Binnington injury, taking a series of costly penalties in Game 4. Husso has also permitted 10 goals on 59 shots, failing to bail out the overmatched Blues on multiple occasions. We like the Avs to take care of business in Denver on Wednesday, as well as the OVER 6.5 total goals at +100.
Final score prediction: Colorado 5, Blues 2
Lightning to three-peat?
After becoming only the third franchise in NHL history to win at least 10 consecutive playoff series, Tampa Bay is aiming to complete hockey’s first three-peat since the Islanders won four-straight championships from 1980-83. Oddsmakers currently have the Lightning at +225 to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup, trailing only the favored Avalanche at +140.
Jon Cooper’s club will face the Hurricanes or Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final before a potential Cup faceoff with the Avalanche, Flames or Oilers. And no matter who they play moving forward, the Bolts will have a big-time goaltending advantage. Andrei Vasilevskiy is riding a six-game winning streak after making 49 saves in Tampa’s 2-0 victory over the Panthers on Monday. The reigning Conn Smythe winner now has six shutouts in his past seven series-clinching wins.
Brodeur, Roy, Hasek, and Vasilevskiy. Toc's Mount Rushmore of goalies 💪
Do you agree? Sound off ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eZMZd0eNML
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 24, 2022
The only potential impediment to another boat parade down the Hillsborough River is the health status of Brayden Point, who missed the entire second-round series with Florida after being injured in Game 7 against the Leafs.
While the Lightning can survive another series without their star forward, they will need Point healthy to top the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
