In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks meet at Rogers Arena for a Western Conference matchup. The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30, and you will be able to witness it live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks Odds
The money line for each team is currently set at an identical -110 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Colorado is 27-21 straight up (SU) and has netted 10.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 26 of its matches have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Avalanche team is 9-13 SU on the road.
Colorado has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Additionally, it has the fifth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.7 percent of all penalties.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .912 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (14-12-2) has been the best option in goal for Colorado this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach Jared Bednar may go with Jonathan Bernier (14-10-1 record, .919 save percentage, 2.62 goals against average).
The visiting Avalanche will be led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. MacKinnon (60 points) is up to 24 goals and 36 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 18 different games. Rantanen has 17 goals and 30 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 30 games).
Vancouver is 19-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 27 of its contests have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 8-16 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has converted on 22.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last ten games. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.3 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 13 wins, 23 losses, and five overtime losses and has maintained a poor .908 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average this season.
The Nucks offense will be led by Brock Boeser (24 goals, 19 assists).
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
The Avalanche are 13-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-14 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
Vancouver is 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 1-1 in shootouts.
Vancouver skaters have averaged 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 5.8 takeaways per game (ranked 28th in the NHL).
Colorado skaters have managed 4.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.1 takeaways per game (ranked 18th in the NHL).
