Two teams that each played games last night, the Colorado Avalanche and the Washington Capitals take the ice at Capital One Arena for an East-West showdown. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will air the action, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Washington is 18-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.0 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked second in the Metropolitan Division so far in this young season, is a slide from what the team recorded during last years regular season (55-27). Through 31 regular season outings, 17 of the teams games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. The teams 12-5 SU at home this season.
The Capitals have connected on 20.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Capitals have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over their last ten contests. The team has had to kill penalties for just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Braden Holtby (16-7) has been the top goalkeeper for the Caps this season. Holtby did just play last night, however, so the team could opt to give him the night off and turn to Philipp Grubauer instead (2-9-9 record, .899 save percentage, 3.01 goals against average).
The Caps will continue to look for offensive production out of Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovechkin (33 points) has tallied 21 goals and 12 assists and has recorded two or more points on seven separate occasions this year. Kuznetsov has 10 goals and 21 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 19 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Colorado is 14-15 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. A total of 18 of its matches have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and none have pushed. The Avalanche are 6-9 SU as the away team this season.
The Avalanche have converted on 18.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Colorado’s players have been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (3.14 goals against average and .905 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 29.2 saves per game and owns a 9-9-1 record.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will run through Nathan MacKinnon, who’s got 22 assists and 11 goals this year.
Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Washington is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in four of Washington’s last five outings.
- Over Washington’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-3 in those games).
