Two of the leagues best at killing off power plays, the Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche meet at the Pepsi Center for a Western Conference showdown. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, January 15.
Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Anaheim heads into the game as the slight favorite with a -115 moneyline. The line for Colorado sits at -105 and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Colorado is 23-19 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 8.3 units this year. That early-season winning percentage is a complete turnaround from what the team managed during last years regular season (22-60). Through 42 regular season outings, 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the teams 15-8 SU at home.
The Avalanche have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked second overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.
The Avalanche, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game overall this season, 4.6 per game over their last five matchups total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties for just 8.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Boasting a .912 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (14-12-2) has been the top option in goal for the Avs this season. If the Avs, however, choose to rest him, the team could turn to Jonathan Bernier (10-8-8 record, .911 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
The Avs will continue to look for leadership from Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. MacKinnon (53 points) has tallied 19 goals and 34 assists and has recorded two or more points 16 times this year. Rantanen has 15 goals and 26 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 27 contests.
Over on the other bench, Anaheim is 20-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 28 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team, the Ducks are 10-13 SU so far.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.9 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s skaters have been penalized 4.6 times per game this season, and 5.4 per game over their last five contests. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays an unhealthy 14.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
John Gibson (29.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 14 wins, 20 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .923 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average this year.
Rickard Rakell (15 goals, 17 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Ducks.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Anaheim (2-5 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Colorado has only participated in a couple of shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
- The under has hit in three of Colorado’s last five games.
- Anaheim has managed 27.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Colorado is averaging 34.4 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Colorado has scored 3.3 goals per game overall this year, but has raised that figure up to 4.3 per contest on its six-game win streak.
- Six of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
- Anaheim skaters have accounted for the sixth-most hits in the league (23.5 per game).
