Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and the Colorado Avalanche will do battle against Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena for an East-West showdown. NBC Sports Washington will showcase the matchup, and the action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 7.
Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals Odds
The Capitals (-185) are heavily favored over the Avalanche (+160) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -130 over, +110 under.
Washington is 29-24 straight-up (SU) and has lost 1.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 49-33 record that the team managed during the 2017-18 season campaign. Through 53 regular season matches, 27 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 15-13 SU at home this year.
The Capitals have converted on 21.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.1 percent of all penalties.
Sporting a .908 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Braden Holtby (19-19-5) has been the primary option in goal for the Caps this season. If the Caps, however, choose to give him a breather, Washington may roll with Pheonix Copley (11-8-8 record, .903 save percentage, 2.98 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Colorado is 22-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 52 regular season matches, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As an away team so far, the Avalanche are 12-15 SU.
The Avalanche have scored on 24.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Semyon Varlamov (26.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Colorado. Varlamov has 13 wins, 19 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .905 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average this year.
Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in three of their last five outings.
- 10 of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-8 in those games.
- The Caps this season have tallied the 11th-most hits per game in the NHL (23.4), but that average has jumped up to 28.2 over their past five home games.
