A game between two teams riding winning streaks, the Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche meet at the Pepsi Center in a divisional matchup. The action will get started at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 16, and you’ll be able to see it live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds
Nashville is 46-24 straight up (SU) and has netted 14.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. 34 of its games have gone over the total, while another 34 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 21-13 SU on the road.
Nashville has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, it has the ninth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.5 percent of its penalties.
The Preds, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.5 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 5.2 per game over its last five outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 10.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Sporting a .929 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (39-13-4) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this season. Rinne played last night, however, so Nashville may opt to rest him and instead roll with Juuse Saros (7-12-6 record, .924 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
The visiting Predators have relied on Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban this year. Arvidsson has 52 points via 26 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded two or more points 15 times. Subban has 15 goals and 35 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 37 games).
Colorado is 38-32 straight up (SU) and has earned 10.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 70 regular season matches, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just five have pushed. It’s 24-10 SU at home this year.
The Avalanche have converted on just 21.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Colorado players have been penalized 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 12.8 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Semyon Varlamov (28.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Avalanche. Varlamov has 22 wins, 22 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 2.76 goals against average and a .917 save percentage this season.
Nathan MacKinnon (35 goals, 50 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Avs.
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Seven of Colorado’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 6-1 overall in those games.
Extra-man opportunities may prove to be extremely important tonight. The Predators are 17-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-13 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Avalanche are 16-12 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 23-21 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Nashville (5-6 in shootouts) has significantly more shootout experience coming into this one. Colorado has only participated in a couple of shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
Nashville may have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s an impressive 22-13 in games decided by one goal, while Colorado is 10-13 in such games.
The total has gone over in three of Colorado’s last five games.
Colorado has scored 3.2 goals per game overall this year, but has raised that figure up to 4.7 per contest over its three-game winning streak.
One of the best at taking care of the puck, Colorado is ranked 3rd this season with just 6.1 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team’s averaged 4.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 3.8 giveaways over its last five.
Nashville is ranked 17th this season with 9.8 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it’s averaged 11.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.8 giveaways over its last five.
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