Steve Starr
- Bovada has point spreads, money lines and game totals for the sole NHL Stanley Cup Playoff game on Friday, May 27, 2022
- The Blues head back home after a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 5 extended their series with the Avalanche
- Colorado is a -245 favorite to win in St. Louis for the third time in their best-of-seven matchup
Nathan MacKinnon scored an incredible end-to-end goal to complete the hat trick and give Colorado a 4-3 lead with under three minutes to play, but the resilient Blues staved off elimination in Game 5 with a 5-4 overtime win.
Can St. Louis come back from a 3-1 series deficit for the third time in franchise history or will MacKinnon’s Avs punch a ticket to the third round for the first time in his nine-year career?
Let’s check the odds and preview Game 6 on Friday night. 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
Colorado is a -245 favorite to finish off the series on the road in Game 6 after winning the two previous contents in St. Louis by a combined 11-5 score. However, after blowing leads of 3-0 and 4-3 at home on Wednesday, the ghosts of the organization’s past failures will be out at full force tonight.
Having not advanced to the Western Conference Final in two decades, Jared Bednar’s club choked away Game 5 after dominating proceedings for 40 minutes. They also wasted an all-time performance from MacKinnon, who scored one of the nicest goals in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Nathan MacKinnon just went nuclear for the Avs in the Stanley Cup playoffs pic.twitter.com/ERWG5xnbIv
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) May 26, 2022
After the Avs failed to convert on a few empty-net opportunities to ice the game, Robert Thomas tied it up in the final minute before Tyler Bozak finished off the improbable 5-4 comeback just over three minutes into overtime.
The Blues are clearly outmatched talent-wise, but when has that stopped them before? Craig Berube’s resilient club hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup back in 2019 so we can expect their best on Friday night. It’s therefore up to Colorado to rebound from their Game 5 gagging and extinguish their playoff ghosts for good.
Final score prediction: Blues 4, Colorado 2
Stanley Cup Futures Update
Oddsmakers don’t appear too worried about the Avalanche’s long history of playoff choke jobs, keeping Colorado as +140 to win the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, St. Louis is available at +2500 if you believe the 2019 champions can survive the Avs and make another title run.
If the Blues win two more games and prevail in the second-round series, a Western Conference Final matchup with Edmonton (+650) wouldn’t feel too daunting. Sure, stopping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl doesn’t seem like the easiest chore but Berube’s disciplined club will play much tighter defense than the Flames.
WHAT A GAME. WHAT A COMEBACK🔥
Tyler Bozak’s 2nd goal of the playoffs forces a Game 6!#STLBlues | #GoAvsGo
🎥: @BR_OpenIce pic.twitter.com/Dw8O45HbSm
— FanDuel Canada (@FanDuelCanada) May 26, 2022
Waiting for the Avalanche, Blues or Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final will likely be the Tampa Bay Lightning (+225), who are aiming for the NHL’s first three-peat since the Islanders won four-straight championships from 1980-83.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
