Two clubs facing each other for the first time this year, the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Rangers take the ice at Madison Square Garden for an East-versus-West showdown. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will showcase the game, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 16.
Colorado Avalanche at New York Rangers Odds
Colorado (-125) is currently favored over New York (+105) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Colorado is 3-2 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That SU win percentage, the second-best in the Central Division so far in this young season, is fairly close to what the team produced during last year’s regular season (43-39). Three of its matches has gone over the total, while two have gone under. The Avs are 1-1 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Colorado has converted on 27.8 percent of its power play opportunities thus far. That’s a good step forward from last season, when it was ranked 10th in the league by scoring on 21.3 percent of its extra-man opportunities. Its penalty kill has also gotten stronger year-over-year, as the team’s gone from successfully defending 83.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked third overall last year) to 95.7 percent this year.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been penalized 5.6 times per game this season. Last year, that figure was the mark in the league at 4.0 penalties per game. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 11.2 minutes per matchup this year.
Averaging 30.8 saves per game with a .946 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (3-1-1) has been the top option in goal for Colorado this season. If Colorado decides to rest him, however, they could go with Philipp Grubauer (0-1 record, .882 save percentage, 4.06 goals against average).
The visiting Avalanche have relied on Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon this season. Rantanen (eight points) has tallied one goal and seven assists this season; MacKinnon has six goals and one assist to his name through the early phase of the regular season.
New York is 1-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through five regular season contests, four of its games have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed. It’s 1-2 SU at home so far this year.
New York has killed off a remarkable 75.0 percent of all penalties, a few points lower than the 81.4 percent the team recorded a year ago (when it was ranked eighth overall). It’s found the net on 8.3 percent of its power plays this year after converting on 21.2 percent (ranked 12th in league) last season.
New York skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.8 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.0 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 10.2 minutes per outing this season.
Henrik Lundqvist has stopped 30.5 shots per game as the top option in goal for New York. Lundqvist has one win and three losses to his credit and has registered a .938 save percentage and a solid 2.03 goals against average this year.
The home team offense will be led by Jesper Fast (one goal, three assists).
Colorado Avalanche at New York Rangers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in four of New York’s last five games.
New York has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
Colorado skaters recorded 20.4 hits per game last season, while the Broadway Blueshirts logged 20.9 hits per matchup.
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