Two of the league’s best at converting on the power play, the Florida Panthers and the Colorado Avalanche clash at the Pepsi Center. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will air this East-West matchup, and the action gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 25.
Florida Panthers at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Colorado (-145) is favored over Florida (+125), and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at 7 goals (-120 for the over, +100 for the under).
The Avalanche are 27-35 straight up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -14.2 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2017-18 season (43-39). Through 62 regular season contests, 33 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 12-17 SU at home this season.
Colorado’s converted on 22.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 5.6 per game over its past ten outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for a whopping 13.6 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 27.6 saves per game with a .911 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (17-24-8) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Avalanche this season. If they, however, decide to give him a rest, the team may turn to Philipp Grubauer (10-14-14 record, .896 save percentage, 3.26 goals against average).
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will both lead the charge for the Avalanche. MacKinnon (80 points) has put up 32 goals and 48 assists and has recorded two or more points in 22 different games this year. Rantanen has 25 goals and 54 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 44 games.
Florida has lost 11.2 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 27-33 straight up (SU). Through 60 regular season outings, 31 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under the total and just seven have pushed. Florida’s 11-17 SU as an away team this season.
Florida enters the matchup with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 26.1 percent of its extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.5 percent of all penalties.
Florida’s skaters have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, 4.0 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
James Reimer (24.1 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Florida. Reimer has 14 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .901 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Panthers, the offense will run through Aleksander Barkov (25 goals, 39 assists) and Jonathan Huberdeau (17 goals, 43 assists).
Florida Panthers at Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Florida (3-4 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Colorado fell short in its only shootout this season.
- The under has hit in three of Colorado’s last five outings.
- This game features two clubs that have clobbered opposing nets with shots. Florida has taken the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (33.3) and Colorado has attempted the ninth-most (32.6).
- Colorado has averaged 3.3 goals per game overall this season, but has upped that figure to 5.0 per match up over its four-game winning streak.
- Over Colorado’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- Florida skaters recorded 20.2 hits per game last season, while the Avs accounted for 20.4 hits per contest.
