Avalanche vs. Blues Game 3 Prediction and Odds (Blues Hang Tough In High-Scoring Affair)

After a 4-1 Blues win in Game 2, this Western Conference Semi-Finals series heads to St. Louis all tied up for a critical Game 3 matchup on Saturday, May 21st, at 8:00 PM EST.

WynnBET Sportsbook still has the Avalanche as heavy favorites to win the series, listed at -340 compared to +270 for the Blues.

But Colorado wasn't quite the all-league dominating force on the road, and St. Louis is riding high with confidence after a convincing Game 2 victory.

Can the Avalanche get revenge and regain control of the series or will the Blues secure consecutive victories to put pressure on the favorites?

Let's check out the odds from WynnBET to help answer those questions and find value in this Avalanche vs Blues Game 3 matchup:

Avalanche vs Blues Odds and Total

Moneyline:

• Avalanche: -170
• Blues: +150

Puck line:

• Avalanche: -1.5 (+150)
• Blues: +1.5 (-180)

Total:

• 6.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Avalanche vs. Blues Prediction and Pick

The Blues have been the more impressive team in the first two games of this series, and the Avalanche are quickly falling at risk of losing in the second round for the fourth consecutive season. Their offense hasn't been able to generate the easy scoring opportunities they did at home all season, and St. Louis has proven to be more than capable of hanging around.

Game 2 was Colorado's first loss of the postseason, but they should be concerned after barely hanging on in Game 1 and getting blown out last night.

For as stellar as the Avalanche were at home all year, they can be beat on the road. They went just 4-5 in their final nine games in the regular season as a road favorite and dropped four straight outright on the road to close the year.

St. Louis, meanwhile, is 8-3 in their last 11 home contests and posted an impressive 26-10 regular season record at the Scottrade Center. They've been feisty as underdogs all year too, going 20-7 on the puck line and closing the season on an 8-2 puck line run.

I think there's ample value on the Blues to keep it close, but I don't find the -180 odds on the puck line appealing. So instead, I'll pair the puck line with the over for a Game 3 parlay. In St. Louis' last 14 regular season games as an underdog, the over went 12-1-1.

We expected a high-scoring series and I think we'll see ample scoring opportunities for both sides as the Avalanche try to get out to an early lead. I expect a back-and-forth game that could go to overtime, so I love combining the two bets for a chance at some fireworks.

Pick: Blues +1.5 (-180)/Over 6.5 (-115) Parlay (+191)

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.