Analyzing Friday’s St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Welcome to another edition of NHL Predictions! It is the last day of January. The NHL has four games on the schedule today. As always, we will go around the league and examine each game, concluding with our prediction.

In an ongoing search for a center to play the third line, Faksa gets his shot Friday; Blues look to avoid fourth straight loss

The Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2) open a two-game homestand against the St. Louis Blues (23-24-4) on Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. MT. READ MORE: Rantanen Deal Signals Change: Why MacFarland Should Be Rewarded With Patience (+) Martin Necas and Jack Drury are set to make their home debuts with the Avs.

Earlier in the week, when Brandon Saad was placed on waivers, St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong indicated he didn’t have any plans to recall a forward from the Springfield Thunderbirds to take his spot.

In 119 previous regular-season matchups, the Avalanche are 62-44-13 against the Blues. The Avs have won all three playoff series against the Blues, winning 4-1 in the 2001 Western Conference Final, 4-0 in the 2021 First Round and 4-2 in the 2022 Western Conference Second Round.

The St. Louis Blues visit the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, and both teams are trying to break out of slumps.

BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues enter the matchup with the Colorado Avalanche after losing three games in a row. Colorado is 29-21-2 overall and 7-8-1 against the Central Division. The Avalanche have conceded 164 goals while scoring 169 for a +5 scoring differential.

Will Colorado blow out struggling St. Louis in Friday night’s Blues vs. Avalanche matchup at 9:00 p.m. ET? While the Aves are heavily favored on the moneyline, they also come with plus odds on the puckline.

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The Avalanche have been making major changes to their roster all season. But there's a former Av who is a free agent -- and a potential reunion for him in Colorado is intriguing.

Zegras is in the second season of a three-year $17,250,000 contract signed with the Anaheim Ducks in 2023. He has played just 29 games this season and has produced 13 points (five goals, eight assists). Zegras has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, but when available, he is a game-breaking talent.