Sharks vs Avalanche NHL Odds, Picks, Predictions

Sharks vs. Avalanche Odds

Three straight losses have dropped the defending champion Avalanche into the final Wild Card spot in the West, although they do have games in hand and minimal pressure applied.

Despite what has been somewhat of a letdown regular season due to injuries, Colorado is still getting a ton of respect from oddsmakers and is priced as the second favorite to hoist the cup this spring.

It will skate Tuesday as gigantic home favorites against the San Jose Sharks, who pulled off a shocking 3-2 overtime win last night in Winnipeg.

Let's take a look at the Sharks vs. Avalanche odds and find a prediction with betting value.

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San Jose Sharks

San Jose has quietly trudged towards the absolute bottom of the league's standings with a 2-7-1 record over it's last 10 matchups with a goal differential of -15. The schedule over those 10 games has even been quite forgiving, as the opposition has averaged 18.9 in the league standings on points percentage.

Its expected goals rating of 44.55% in those matchups suggests possibly the Sharks have been slightly unlucky. The Sharks' core has greatly underperformed its expected goals ratings two seasons in a row, however, due in large part to a lack of scoring talent and some shaky goaltending.

James Reimer started last night in Winnipeg, which means that Kaapo Kahkonen should get tonight's game. Kahkonen has struggled mightily to a -19.5 GSAx rating and .882 save percentage throughout 28 games played.

The loss of Timo Meier via trade creates a critical hole up front for a Sharks team which has already lacked offensive punch.

It will be hoping that Fabian Zetterlund and 2021 No. 7 overall pick William Eklund can help fill that void the rest of the way, and perhaps inspire a little bit of energy around a group, which is clearly just skating out the season at this point.

Colorado Avalanche

An 0-2-1 start to the month of March has not set well with the Avalanche core, who were all very vocal about the need to be better following Colorado's loss to the Kraken.

This stretch will likely prove to be nothing but a fairly irrelevant hiccup in a long season, as we see from every team from time to time.

Colorado now has all of its top pieces back in the lineup aside from Captain Gabriel Landeskog, and will offer an extremely tough challenge for a Sharks team which is allowing a downpour of goals against with Kahkonen in net.

Since January 1st Nathan MacKinnon has been in entirely dominant form, and has put 40 points in 26 games while averaging a ridiculous 5.33 shots on goal per game.

Sharks vs. Avalanche Pick

This sets up as a perfect get right spot for the Avs, who no doubt are still the team to beat in the Western Conference this season.

Colorado is going to control far more of the play in this matchup, and seeing San Jose pull off some miracle as it did last night in Winnipeg becomes drastically less likely with Kahkonen likely to start.

What San Jose pulled off last night in Winnipeg was extremely unlikely considering the actual gameplay, and is not a result which makes me question how bad the Sharks currently are.

This should be a field day for the Avs' superstar talents, and a case could be made to back any of their props.

My favorite is looking at Nathan MacKinnon to record over 4.5 shots on goal at -120, as I love the way he should be able to take advantage of a tired San Jose side in this spot. I believe the Avalanche are also very playable at -137 to cover -1.5 in this matchup.

If you are looking to make just one play between those two, it would make a lot of sense to pick the best price relative to market out of the sportsbooks at your disposal.

Pick: Avalanche -1.5 (-135) | Nathan Mackinnon Over 4.5 Shots -120