Blues

[Serbone]

Blues are deep especially at forward and Binnington might be back to his old self.
Games #2 & #3 vs Minny they were missing 3-4 of their top 6 defensemen, and to boot, a defenseman was knocked out in both of those game in the first period, so they played with 5. Liddy & Bortuzzon & Scandella came back game 4, and, to boot, Berube had 7 defenesemen to be safe... went with 11/7 the rest of the series.
SO without those 2 games the Blues routed a solid Minny team in the other 4, blasted them.
Avs are the best, I cannot recommend taking the Blues in this series, but it might be worth a small move with the positive juice. Avs beat the Predators---who were without their star goalie---so, what?
Tarasenko, Kyrou, Thomas, O'Reilly, Perron, and others can score in bunches. Thomas is little known but is one of the best in the NHL, watch him handle the puck in traffic. The Blues do not get credit for a lot of hits, they wisely rub, chip, disrupt their opponents all game, are actually very physical, they swarm and though the Avs are fast and large, it is a good matchup in some ways for the hot Blues.
Maybe a +185 on the game tonight, it is unknown if Binnington will keep his confidence, but he has risen to the occasion recently.
GL!

 

[Serbone]

I repeat, take away games 2 & 3 vs Minny, when they were down 3-4 defenders and lost one in the 1st of both games and played with 5 on D... The Blues are playing as good as, or better, than anybody. Two top defenders back for game 4 nd Berube going with 11/7 ever since.
Binnington started Minny game 4 and has been outstanding every game, since, Mostly blowouts by Blues.
Blues physical play will wear down AVs, and will win 3 of the next 4 to take the series. Speed diminishes in the playoffs playing every other night + against a physical team, Blues rub every moment of the game.
Blues +150 tonight at home away from the thin air, they will take them apart, might want to lay -1.5 goals, too... despite AVs focus after a loss.