Avalanche vs Blues Odds and Best Bets on April 14th

• The Colorado Avalanche, owning the NHL’s  best record of 29-9-4, are 1.5-goal favorites on the road vs the St. Louis Blues on April 14th, 2021
• NBC Sports Network will broadcast the game starting at 7:30 PM EST
• Here are the odds, lines, picks, and analysis for the game

The Colorado Avalanche are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, and they are acting the part. Since March 10th, the Avs are 16-1-2. They lead the NHL with a +52 goal differential, and no other team is within 12 goals of them. The Avalanche are also the league’s No. 1 offensive team. They are a clear favorite in the Avalanche vs Blues odds in their April 14th, 2021 meeting, even though St. Louis have won three in a row.

The game is important to both the Avalanche and Blues. The Avalanche is still scrapping with the Vegas Golden Knights for the West Division top seed, while the Blues have the Arizona Coyotes nipping at them for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Division. The Coyotes are only one point back, but the Blues have three games in hand.

Colorado Avalanche vs St. Louis Blues Odds – April 14th

Odds as of April 13th

Sakic Adds Final Piece to His Puzzle

As much as Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic likes his team, he didn’t stand pat at the trade deadline. Before the April 12 deadline, he added goalie Devan Dubnyk as a backup to Philipp Grubauer, plus center Carl Soderberg and defenseman Patrick Nemeth.

Devon Dubnyk is going to be a good backup and Joe Sakic gave nothing to acquire him, no idea how anyone could dislike this move. It's hilarious how good GM Joe is.

— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) April 10, 2021

Dubnyk has been a No. 1 goalie in Edmonton and Minnesota. He was No. 2 in San Jose when Sakic acquired him. Soderberg is a proven bottom 6 center with 20-goal potential. He played previously in Colorado. Nemeth is considered solid and dependable, more defensive than offensive.

Soderberg wasn’t scheduled to join the team until Wednesday, and it is unknown whether he will play against the Blues on April 14th.

Blues GM Shows Faith in His Players

The fact that St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong didn’t trade some of his veteran players, such as Mike Hoffman or Jaden Schwartz, is an indication that he believes the team has potential for playoff success.

Given their mediocre playing level this season, it’s easy to forget that they are only 22 months removed from winning the Stanley Cup.

Jordan Binnington said "we're comin'" but it looks like we're already here. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/V05L3Aid5p

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 10, 2021

The Blues rank 16th in goal scoring (2.85 goals per game) this season and 21st in goals-against (3.07). Poor penalty killing (76%, 27th) has undermined the Blues often this season. That will be important against Colorado because the Avalanche boast a power play that scores 23.4% of the time.

New Av Not Ready to Play

Defenseman Nemeth is considered day-to-day with a nagging injury, and right wing Logan O’Connor has moved to the injured reserve with a long-term injury. Earlier this week, left wing Matt Calvert went on the injured reserve. Prize rookie defenseman Bowen Byram is on the COVID protocol list.

Erik Johnson and Pavel Francouz still out long-term, Jared Bednar says

— Adrian Dater (@adater) March 5, 2021

For the Blues, forward Robert Thomas is expected to be out two weeks with an injured shoulder.

Avalanche vs Blues Best Bet

Only the Boston Bruins (12-27) are worse against the spread than the Blues (13-27). The Blues are 5-14 ATS at home.  However, the Avalanche are only 7-11 ATS on the road. Both teams have won three in a row, but the Avalanche have looked sharper longer.

The Avalanche have been playing like the NHL’s best team for a month. Take Colorado on the moneyline at -186 in the Avalanche vs Blues odds on April 14th.

Pick: Avalanche Moneyline (-182)