In their third and last head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Arizona Coyotes and the Colorado Avalanche meet at the Pepsi Center for a Western Conference showdown. The matchup will get going at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10, and you will be able to witness the game live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Arizona Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Colorado is 35-32 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 7.7 units this season. That early-season winning percentage is a remarkable improvement over the 22-60 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 67 regular season outings, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just four have pushed. The teams 23-10 SU at home this year.
The Avalanche have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
The Avalanche, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over their past five outings total, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (19-22-6) has been the best option in goal for the Avs this year. If head coach Jared Bednar chooses to rest him, however, the team may turn to Jonathan Bernier (17-13-13 record, .914 save percentage, 2.82 goals against average).
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will each lead the way for the Avalanche. MacKinnon (79 points) has tallied 32 goals and 47 assists and has recorded multiple points on 22 separate occasions this year. Rantanen has 22 goals and 44 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 40 contests.
Over on the other bench, Arizona is 21-45 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 35 of its contests have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team, the Coyotes are 9-23 SU.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 18th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Arizona’s skaters have been penalized only 3.2 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.2 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (2.43 goals against average and .924 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Arizona. Raanta is averaging 26.8 saves per game and owns a 16-23-6 record.
For the visiting Coyotes, the offense will be coordinated by Clayton Keller (18 goals, 30 assists) and Derek Stepan (12 goals, 30 assists).
Arizona Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The majority (71.4 percent) of Colorado’s wins have come by two or more goals, and the team is 25-19 overall in games decided by at least two scores. 8 of Arizona’s 21 wins (38.1 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
- The Coyotes are 9-19 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-33 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Arizona (1-5 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Colorado has participated in only a couple of shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
- Colorado has managed just 2.7 goals per contest (while giving up 3.7) over its three-game losing skid.
- Colorado is ranked 4th this season with just 6.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it’s averaged 4.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 3.4 giveaways over its last five.
- Arizona is ranked sixth this season with 7.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower recently, however, as it’s averaged 6.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.0 giveaways over its last five.
- Arizona skaters have dished out the leagues fifth-most hits per game (24.5).
