NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Canucks vs Avalanche (Tuesday, February 20)
(Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images). Pictured: Thatcher Demko.
Canucks vs. Avalanche Odds
| Canucks Odds | +125 |
| Avalanche Odds | -150 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -115o / -105u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, February 20 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
What an ugly performance we saw from the Canucks yesterday. Vancouver led the Wild 5-3 heading into the third period, only to let up seven (!) goals in the third and fall by the score of 10-7. This is a team that has fared very well all season, but between that game and losing to Winnipeg on Saturday, this is a rough stretch.
Despite winning Sunday against the Coyotes, the second half of the season hasn’t been kind to the Avalanche. Apart from the win, Colorado has fallen to defeat in five of six games off the All-Star break. That’s not very helpful for a team that’s in a relentless battle for supremacy in the Central Division.
There’s a lot to like with the Canucks despite what we saw yesterday. They have three players in JT Miller, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes all averaging over a point per game. Brock Boeser is among the top goal scorers in the league and broke his seven game goalless streak yesterday.
Vancouver was never a deadly 5-on-5 team, doing most of its damage on special teams. In the past month, it’s done fine, ranking 14th in expected goals with a 51.58 xGF%, but has thrived defensively (just not yesterday) with a 2.32 xGA/60.
The power play is legit, scoring at a 23.2% clip, and its penalty kill is at about the league average at 79.8%.
Thatcher Demko has played like one of the best goaltenders in the league all season, and is a big reason why the Canucks have been so dominant. Demko has played to a .918 SV% along with a second-best 22.1 goals saved above expected.
At this point, you have to know the power the Avs bring. Nathan MacKinnon is on pace to be a Hart Trophy candidate with 91 points, while Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar are also both averaging over a point per game. Beyond them, they have plenty of quality depth in Jonathan Drouin and Devon Toews.
In this rough stretch, Colorado’s 5-on-5 game has suffered. In the past seven games, it ranks 20th with a 46.94 xGF% and 26th with a 3.14 xGA/60.
Luckily for the Avs, something is clicking, and it’s their special teams. They score at a 23.8% clip and are ninth with an 81.52% penalty kill.
My guess is that the Avs are also starting to feel the troubles in net. Throughout the season, they have relied heavily on Alexandar Georgiev, but his numbers are suboptimal. For a team that needs to win hockey games, Georgiev has played in 83% of Colorado’s games and played to an .898 SV% and a 4.7 GSAx. That won’t do the trick.
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Canucks vs. Avalanche
Betting Pick & Prediction
Yesterday was a rough outing for the Canucks. The second half of the season for the Avalanche has not been ideal. So, here we have two teams trying to gain back the momentum they’ve had all season.
Coming into this game, I still have more faith in Vancouver, despite it letting up seven goals in the third. Demko being in net will definitely pay dividends, and I can’t imagine coach Rick Tocchet letting the Canucks continue on this path.
Colorado’s a bit of a different story. We know the damage the Avs can deliver. You can never count out the big three of MacKinnon, Rantanen and Makar. However, they’re not playing the kind of hockey we’re accustomed to seeing. They had a hard time against a dwindling Coyotes team, and facing a determined Canucks group may turn out to be problematic.
Vancouver is listed as the underdog, and I think picking the Canucks at plus-value can get you a good bang for your buck.
Pick: Canucks Moneyline +125
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