Rogers Place will be the site for a Western Conference showdown as the Colorado Avalanche pay a visit to the Edmonton Oilers. Sportsnet West will showcase the action, which gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Colorado is 27-22 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 9.7 units this year. 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the road team this season, the Avs are 9-14 SU.
Colorado has converted on 20.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Colorado has been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 3.2 per game over its last five outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .912 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (14-12-2) has been the top option in goal for Colorado this season. If head coach Jared Bednar chooses to rest him, however, Colorado may turn to Jonathan Bernier (14-11-2 record, .917 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Avalanche. MacKinnon has 61 points on 24 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 18 different games. Rantanen has 17 goals and 32 assists to his name (and has notched a point in 30 games).
Edmonton is 22-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 25 of its matches have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 11-14 SU at home this year.
Edmonton has converted on just 14.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is also ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.2 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton players have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their past five contests. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 17.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cam Talbot has stopped 26.0 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Edmonton. Talbot has 19 wins, 20 losses, and two OT losses to his name and has registered a mediocre 3.14 goals against average and a poor .901 save percentage this year.
The Oilers will be led on offense by Connor McDavid (15 goals, 39 assists).
Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone over in three of Edmonton’s last five outings.
Colorado has managed 27.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Edmonton is averaging 34.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
The Avalanche are 13-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-14 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 2-1 in shootouts.
Edmonton skaters have created 11.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 8.1 takeaways per game (ranked 10th in the NHL).
Colorado has scored 3.3 goals per game this year, but is down to 2.0 goals per match up over its three-game losing skid.
Colorado is ranked 18th in the league this season with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as the team has averaged 5.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.6 takeaways over its last five.
