Two teams that each average 11+ minutes per game in the penalty box, the Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks clash at Rogers Arena. Sportsnet Pacific will broadcast this Western Conference matchup, and the action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, November 2.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
With a moneyline of -120, Colorado enters the matchup as the favorite. The line for Vancouver sits at +100, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
Earning 7.8 units for moneyline bettors, the Canucks are 8-6 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked first in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, is a refreshing turnaround from how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (31-51). Of its 14 regular season contests, eight have gone under the total, while six have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 4-2 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has converted on 17.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, a number that has climbed some from last year’s 3.7 penalties per game the team gave up. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to kill penalties for 11.4 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 30.6 saves per game with a .911 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (5-3) has been the top option in goal for the Canucks this year. If head coach Travis Green decides to rest him, however, the Nucks might go with Anders Nilsson (3-3-3 record, .912 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat will both look to continue their strong seasons for the Canucks. Pettersson (10 points) is up to seven goals and three assists and has recorded multiple points on three different occasions this year. Horvat has seven goals and three assists to his name and has notched a point in eight games.
Colorado has earned moneyline bettors 2.0 units this season and is currently 7-5 straight up (SU). Through 12 regular season outings, seven of its games have gone under the total, while five have gone over and none have pushed. Colorado’s 4-3 SU as the road team this season.
Colorado has converted on 23.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 88.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Colorado’s players have been called for penalties 5.1 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, which was the eighth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago (10th-most in the league), the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 11.3 minutes per outing this season.
Semyon Varlamov (1.62 goals against average and .950 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 31.1 saves per game and owns a 4-4-2 record.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will be facilitated by Mikko Rantanen (five goals, 16 assists) and Nathan MacKinnon (nine goals, nine assists).
Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in four of Colorado’s last five outings.
The Canucks are 7-1 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Avalanche are 3-3 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
Vancouver ranked 24th last year with 6.1 takeaways per game, but the team appears to be applying more intense pressure on opposing offenses to begin this season. It’s currently ranked eighth through 14 games with 8.8 takeaways per contest.
Vancouver could hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 4-0 in games decided by one goal, while Colorado is 0-4 in such games.
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