Avalanche bring 3-1 series lead into game 5 against the Blues
St. Louis Blues (49-22-11, third in the Central Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (56-19-7, first in the Central Division)
Denver; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Avalanche -249, Blues +202; over/under is 6.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Avalanche lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the sixth time this season. The Avalanche won the previous matchup 6-3. Nazem Kadri scored three goals in the win.
Colorado is 56-19-7 overall with a 14-5-3 record against the Central Division. The Avalanche are 50-4-4 in games they score three or more goals.
St. Louis is 49-22-11 overall with a 16-5-3 record in Central Division play. The Blues have gone 7-7-8 in games decided by a single goal.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nathan MacKinnon has 32 goals and 56 assists for the Avalanche. Kadri has six goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
Vladimir Tarasenko has 34 goals and 48 assists for the Blues. Pavel Buchnevich has one goal and eight assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 7-2-1, averaging 4.1 goals, 6.3 assists, four penalties and 10.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
Blues: 5-4-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.2 assists, 4.1 penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Ryan Murray: out (hand/wrist), Samuel Girard: out for season (sternum).
Blues: Jordan Binnington: out (knee), Marco Scandella: day to day (lower-body), Mackenzie MacEachern: out (upper-body), Torey Krug: out (lower body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by