Two clubs that are facing each other for the third and final time this year, the Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche take the ice at the Pepsi Center for a Western Conference tilt. Sportsnet Pacific will broadcast the matchup, and the action gets going at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 26.
Vancouver Canucks at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Colorado enters the game as the heavy favorite with a -175 moneyline. The line for Vancouver sits at +155 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Colorado is 32-29 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. That early-season winning percentage is a remarkable improvement over the 22-60 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 61 regular season outings, 32 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team’s 20-9 SU at home this season.
The Avalanche have converted on 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
The Avalanche, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five games home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
With a .911 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (16-19-3) has been the best goalkeeper for Colorado this year. If Colorado decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Jonathan Bernier (17-13-13 record, .914 save percentage, 2.82 goals against average).
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will both spearhead the attack for the Avalanche. MacKinnon (66 points) has produced 26 goals and 40 assists and has recorded multiple points 19 times this year. Rantanen has 19 goals and 37 assists to his name and has notched a point in 36 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Vancouver is 24-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and none have pushed. The Canucks are 13-19 SU as a road team this season.
The Canucks have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver’s players have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.2 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Vancouver. Markstrom owns a 17-28-5 record, and has registered a .910 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks will be Brock Boeser, who has 27 goals and 25 assists this season.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Seven of Colorado’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 2-5 overall in those games.
The Avalanche are 10-14 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canucks are 12-16 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
Vancouver is 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 1-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Vancouver’s last five outings.
Colorado has averaged 3.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.5 giveaways per game (ranked 5th in the league).
Vancouver is ranked eighth this season with 8.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the team’s averaged 5.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 5.0 giveaways over its last five.
