The Honda Center is playing host a Western Conference matchup as the Colorado Avalanche pay a visit to the Anaheim Ducks. It’s the third and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The action will get underway at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 1 and it’s being shown live on Sportsnet.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds
Colorado is 42-36 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 11.3 units this season. Through 78 regular season contests, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The Avs are 15-23 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Colorado has converted on 21.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all penalties.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over its past ten contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .920 save percentage and 28.8 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (26-25-6) has been the best option in goal for Colorado this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, the team might go with Jonathan Bernier (19-14-2), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.
The visiting Avalanche will be led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. MacKinnon (93 points) has tallied 38 goals and 55 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 26 different games. Rantanen has 28 goals and 54 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 48 games).
Over on the other bench, Anaheim is 40-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 47 of its games have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 23-15 SU at home this year.
Anaheim has converted on just 17.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim players have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (29.2 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 32 wins, 27 losses, and eight overtime losses and has maintained a .926 save percentage and 2.43 goals against average this season.
Rickard Rakell (32 goals, 34 assists) will pace the attack for the Ducks.
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 2-1 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Anaheim’s last five games.
Colorado has managed 28.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Anaheim has been attempting 32.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
Over Colorado’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
The Ducks this season have registered the sixth-most hits per game (24.0).
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