Two of the leagues best at killing off power plays, the Colorado Avalanche and the Anaheim Ducks collide at the Honda Center in a Western Conference showdown. The first puck will drop at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 1, and you can see it live on Sportsnet.
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Colorado is 42-36 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 11.3 units this year. 39 of its outings have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just seven have pushed. This 2017-18 Avalanche team is 15-23 SU on the road.
Colorado has converted on 21.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Avs have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 2.8 per game over its last ten contests. The teams had to kill penalties just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.8 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (26-25-6) has been the top option in goal for Colorado this year. If Colorado decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to Jonathan Bernier (19-14-2), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will both lead the way for the visiting Avalanche. MacKinnon has 93 points on 38 goals and 55 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 26 different games. Rantanen has 28 goals and 54 assists to his credit, and has registered at least one point in 48 games.
Over on the other bench, Anaheim is 40-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 78 regular season contests, 47 of its games have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the teams 23-15 SU at home.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and its successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Ducks players have been penalized 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The teams been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (29.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 32 wins, 27 losses, and eight OT losses and has registered a 2.43 goals against average and a .926 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Rickard Rakell (32 goals, 34 assists).
Colorado Avalanche vs. Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in four of Anaheims last five outings.
- Colorado has managed 28.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Anaheim is averaging 32.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Over Colorados last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
- The Ducks this season have recorded the sixth-most hits per game (24.0).
