Xam’s Daily Gem:
Avalanche 60 Minute Money Line -125 DraftKings
(For this bet to win, the Avalanche must win in regulation. Bet loses even if the Avalanche win in OT/Shootout.)
Both the Avalanche and the Blues come into tonight on a winning streak. The Avs have won 6 straight games and the Blues have won 4 straight games to propel themselves back into the playoff race. However, the Blues have been playing a lot recently. Tonight is their 3rd game in 4 nights and 4th game in 6 nights. The Blues have been winning thanks to a dominant defense. They’re giving up just over 3 goals per game and have given up just 23 goals in their last 10 games. However, it’s their offense that they need to be concerned about tonight. They’ve scored just 194 goals on the year, which comes out to just 2.85 goals per game. In this game against the Avs, that’s not going to work. The Avs have scored the most points in the league coming into the game tonight, and they have a rest advantage as well. The Avs are scoring 3.73 goals per game on the year. Given their offensive capabilities and rest edge, the game will likely come down to likely goalie Alexandar Georgiev. Georgiev has been a rock this year and has been playing well recently. On the year, he’s giving up just 2.83 goals per game. So far in March, that number is down to an impressive 2.35 goals per game. He’s given up 2 or less goals in 3 of his last 4 games and played perhaps his best game of the year in the Avs last game in Edmonton. The Avs still have a shot at the top seed in the Western Conference, so they have every reason to be highly motivated tonight. If they can get a solid defensive performance tonight, their offensive stars, led by Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Valeri Nichushkin should be able to get the offense rolling once again. The Avs just have too many playmakers for the Blues to stop tonight.