The Colorado Avalanche hope to avoid elimination at Bridgestone Arena in Game 5 of the postseason’s first round. NBC Sports Network will showcase the action, which gets going at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, April 20.
Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (-345) is currently favored over Colorado (+275), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
Nashville is 56-30 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 15.7 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 41-41 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 86 regular season contests, 44 of its games have gone over the total, while 41 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 30-13 SU at home.
The Predators’ offensive attack attempted 32.2 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.3 goals per contest (ranked seventh overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team’s attempting an average of 32.5 shots on goal (and up to 4.0 goals per game).
Following a regular season where they converted 21.3 percent of all power-play chances (the 14th-rated), the Predators have connected on 23.1 percent of their power plays in the early stages of these playoffs.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (45-18-4) has been the best goalkeeper for the Preds this year. If the Preds, however, choose to give him a rest, Nashville may turn to Juuse Saros (12-15-15 record, .926 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson will both be focal points for the Predators. Forsberg (69 points) has tallied 29 goals and 40 assists and has recorded two or more points 19 times this year. Arvidsson has 30 goals and 33 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 45 games.
Colorado is 44-42 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 86 regular season matches, 45 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just seven have pushed. As the road team, the Avalanche are 15-28 SU.
The Avalanche have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s players have been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (2.68 goals against average and .920 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 28.8 saves per game and owns a 26-25-6 record.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Avalanche will be Nathan MacKinnon, who has 42 goals and 60 assists on the year.
Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Six of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 4-2 overall in those games.
Power plays and penalty kills may prove to be key tonight. The Avalanche are 21-17 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 28-28 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Predators are 20-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 26-15 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Nashville is 6-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 2-1 in shootouts.
Nashville could have an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 26-15 in games decided by one goal, while Colorado is only 11-17 in such games.
The over has hit in four of Nashville’s last five games.
Nashville skaters have averaged 13.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.6 giveaways per game (ranked 16th in the league).
Colorado skaters have averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 6.2 giveaways per game (ranked second).
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