Ducks vs Avalanche Prediction: NHL Odds, Preview for Tuesday, December 5
Pictured: Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche and Kevin Fiala of the Kings. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ducks vs. Avalanche Odds
| Ducks Odds | +220 |
| Avalanche Odds | -275 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -115 / -105 |
The Anaheim Ducks are set to face the Colorado Avalanche in consecutive games. The Ducks have had it rough lately, going 2-8 in their past 10, but did pull out a win in a shootout on Saturday night.
Colorado won’t have the luxury of playing the same opponent in consecutive games as the Avalanche fell to the Kings on Sunday. Despite this two-game losing streak, things seem to be going well in Denver as the Avalanche are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games.
Here’s a look at the odds, as well as my betting prediction for Ducks vs. Avalanche.
Frank Vatrano has turned into a goal-scoring machine. He stands among the league’s leading goal scorers with 14, and is on pace to shatter his career high. Mason McTavish has also had a great start to his sophomore season, but is pointless in four straight. Top draft pick Leo Carlsson is acclimating well to the NHL, as he, Vatrano and McTavish have been the only consistent goal scorers on this team.
In this poor stretch, Anaheim’s 5-on-5 play has suffered quite a bit. It’s playing to a seventh worst 46.68 xGF%, and a 2.83 xGA/60.
Luckily, special teams has been somewhat of a strength. The Ducks are scoring on the power play 21.79% of the time, while killing penalties at a nearly 80% rate.
John Gibson led the charge in the shootout win against Colorado. But the question is, will he suit up again? The 10-year veteran has had himself a solid year, playing to a .907 SV% and +3.0 goals saved above expected (GSAx). Backup Lukas Dostal is an option, but he’s struggled this season.
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We all know about the firepower Colorado brings to the table. However, Cale Makar missed Sunday’s game against the Kings, so his availability for this one remains a question. Makar leads the team in scoring, but Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen aren’t too far behind with 31 points each.
Traditionally, Colorado has always been a powerful 5-on-5 team. The Avalanche are eighth in expected goals with a 53.25 xGF%, and are eighth defensively with a 2.42 xGA/60.
The Avalanche are just OK in special teams. Their penalty kill is their bread and butter, succeeding 85.5% of the time. However, the power play only scores at a 20% clip, which is rather low by Colorado's standards.
We’ll probably see Alexandar Georgiev take the crease since Ivan Prosvetov started on Saturday. Georgiev has played to a fine .900 SV% and a +5.0 GSAx.
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Ducks vs. Avalanche
Betting Pick & Prediction
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I know what you’re thinking. I know what you're thinking … the Ducks are coming off a win and this is a perfect spot for an upset. I think I’d be inclined to do agree if Anaheim wasn’t playing a juggernaut.
Even if Makar is out, the Avalanche still completely outmatch the Ducks. The Ducks are inexperienced, defensively inept and lack depth scoring. The Avalanche are a year removed from winning the Stanley Cup and loaded throughout the roster. The metrics also clearly favor Colorado.
I’ll be backing the Colorado puckline in this matchup.
Pick: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (-120)
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