St. Louis Blues (49-22-11, third in the Central Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (56-19-7, first in the Central Division)
Denver; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Avalanche -244, Blues +200; over/under is 6.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Avalanche lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche host the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Tuesday for the sixth time this season. The Avalanche won the last matchup 3-2 in overtime.
Colorado has a 14-5-3 record in Central Division games and a 56-19-7 record overall. The Avalanche have scored 67 power-play goals, which leads NHL play.
St. Louis is 49-22-11 overall with a 16-5-3 record against the Central Division. The Blues have gone 42-7-4 in games they score three or more goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mikko Rantanen has 36 goals and 56 assists for the Avalanche. Valeri Nichushkin has six goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Robert Thomas has 20 goals and 56 assists for the Blues. Justin Faulk has one goal and six assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 6-3-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.1 assists, 4.1 penalties and 10.4 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
Blues: 5-4-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.2 assists, four penalties and eight penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Andrew Cogliano: day to day (upper-body), Ryan Murray: out (hand/wrist).
Blues: Marco Scandella: day to day (lower-body), Mackenzie MacEachern: out (upper-body), Torey Krug: out (lower body).
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