NHLThursday, Apr 9, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
Predicted
Blues 4-2
Actual
Avalanche 1-3
Blues
vs
Avalanche
AI Confidence: โก70%
Winner: Blues Win (โก70%)
Spread: Blues +1.5 (+1.5) (โก75%)
Total: Under 6.5 (โก65%)
Blues vs Avalanche Prediction
The Colorado Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues in a pivotal late-season matchup. While the Avalanche have secured their playoff position and top seed, the Blues are fighting for a wild card spot, setting the stage for a highly motivated performance from the visitors. Despite injuries, the Avalanche's depth and home-ice advantage make them favorites.
ATS PREDICTION
Blues Win
Predicted: 4-2
โก70%
The Colorado Avalanche, despite clinching the top seed in the Western Conference, remain a dominant force at home, boasting the league's best offense (3.7 GF/G) and defense (2.5 GA/G). While Cale Makar is out with an upper-body injury, the return of key forwards Nicolas Roy and Valeri Nichushkin should bolster their offensive attack. The St. Louis Blues have shown recent resilience, including a 3-2 victory over the Avalanche recently, fueled by Robert Thomas's hat trick and Dylan Holloway's point streak. However, the Avalanche's overall strength, home-ice advantage, and motivation to maintain momentum, even with a clinched playoff spot, give them the edge in what is expected to be a competitive contest.
SPREAD PREDICTION
Blues +1.5 (+1.5)
75%
The Blues have demonstrated their ability to keep games close against the Avalanche, evidenced by their recent 3-2 win and a 3-1 loss where they were competitive. Their high motivation for a playoff spot combined with Joel Hofer's strong goaltending (.932 SV% in his last 8 starts) should allow them to cover the +1.5 puck line, even in a loss.
TOTAL PREDICTION
Under 6.5
65%
Recent matchups between these two teams have seen lower scoring, with results of 3-1 and 3-2. The Avalanche boast the league's best defense, allowing only 2.5 goals per game. Furthermore, Joel Hofer for the Blues has been in excellent form, consistently allowing three or fewer goals in his recent outings. This defensive strength and solid goaltending from both sides point towards the total staying under 6.5 goals.
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First Period Winner
Avalanche
The Avalanche, playing at home, are known for their strong starts and will look to set the tone early, especially after a recent loss to the Blues.
Player to Score Anytime Goal
Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
MacKinnon is a consistent offensive threat and a top scorer for the Avalanche, making him a strong candidate to find the back of the net in any game.
Player to Score Anytime Goal
Robert Thomas (STL)
Robert Thomas is in excellent form, having recently scored a hat trick against the Avalanche and maintaining a strong scoring pace since returning from injury.
Race to 3 Goals
Avalanche
With their league-leading offense, the Avalanche are more likely to be the first team to reach three goals, especially at home.
Team Total Goals - Avalanche
Over 3.5
Even against a solid goalie, the Avalanche's potent offense averages 3.7 goals per game, suggesting they can hit or exceed this total at home.
Blues vs Avalanche โ Key Stats (AI)
Betting Angles โ Blues vs Avalanche
โ ๏ธ Moneyline: Blues (+132)
Given the Blues' recent form, their strong motivation for a playoff spot, and their ability to beat the Avalanche just days ago, the implied probability of 43.1% feels slightly undervalued compared to their true chances.
โ ๏ธ Total Goals: Under 6.5 (-130)
Both teams have shown defensive solidity in their recent head-to-head games, with Joel Hofer performing exceptionally for the Blues and the Avalanche having the league's best defense. The implied probability of 56.5% for the under seems a bit low.
๐ฐ Sharp Money
Expect sharp money to lean towards the Blues +1.5 and the Under 6.5, capitalizing on the Avalanche's clinched playoff spot and Makar's injury. Line movement: Initial line movement might favor the Avalanche, but could shift towards the Blues +1.5 or the Under as game time approaches, reflecting sharp action and injury news.
AI Same Game Parlay โ Blues vs Avalanche
๐ฅ RECOMMENDED SGP
3-LegCombined Odds: 5.72 (+472)
AI Confidence: 60%
$10 โ $57.20 | $25 โ $143.00 | $50 โ $286.00
Correlation: Positive correlation between an Avalanche win and MacKinnon scoring, and the Under suggests a tighter, but still Avalanche-favored, game.
Risk Assessment
Medium Risk- โ ๏ธAvalanche's motivation could be lower due to clinched playoff spot
- โ ๏ธImpact of Cale Makar's absence on Avalanche defense
- โ ๏ธBlues' high motivation could lead to an upset
- โ ๏ธJoel Hofer's continued stellar performance
Model Confidence
โก70%
Data quality: High
Limitations
- โขBetting lines are based on previous day's information and may fluctuate.
- โขExact lineups and starting goalies for the specific game day (April 9th) are projections based on latest available news for April 7th.
This prediction is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice.
Blues vs Avalanche โ FAQ
For the Colorado Avalanche, star defenseman Cale Makar is out with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss a few more games. For the St. Louis Blues, no significant injuries were reported as of the most recent updates.