Two clubs that split their head-to-head series one game each last year, the New York Islanders and the Colorado Avalanche clash at the Pepsi Center. The first puck will drop at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, December 17, and you’ll be able to witness this East-West matchup live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
New York Islanders at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Colorado (-200) is heavily favored over New York (+170) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 over, +110 under.
Earning 1.4 units for moneyline bettors, the Avalanche are 18-15 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Central Division in this young season, is right in line with the 43-39 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 33 games this season, 19 have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 7-6 SU at home.
Colorado currently has the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 29.8 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.2 percent of all penalties.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over its past five games total, and 3.8 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 11.0 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
With a .915 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (11-11-3) has been the top option in goal for the Avalanche this year. If they choose to give him the evening off, however, the team may go with Philipp Grubauer (7-6-6 record, .897 save percentage, 3.22 goals against average).
The Avs will continue to lean on the offensive production from Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon. Rantanen (56 points) has tallied 15 goals and 41 assists and has recorded multiple points on 16 different occasions this year. MacKinnon has 21 goals and 31 assists to his name and has notched a point in 25 games.
New York has earned moneyline bettors 3.8 units this season and is currently 15-16 straight up (SU). A total of 17 of its outings have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just two have pushed. As an away team this season, New York is 7-8 SU.
New York has converted on just 14.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
New York’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.9 per game over their last ten contests. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Thomas Greiss (2.59 goals against average and .916 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for New York. Greiss is averaging 25.1 saves per game and owns a 13-7-1 record.
Mathew Barzal (four goals, 23 assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Islanders.
New York Islanders vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Picks
Prediction: SU Winner \u2013 Avalanche, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in each of their last five outings.
- New York has managed 26.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Colorado is averaging 34.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Penalties and power plays could be extremely important in tonight’s matchup. The Islanders are 6-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 11-10 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Avalanche are 7-4 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-6 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Three of New York’s past 10 contests have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- Colorado has created 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 5.1 takeaways per game (ranked 30th in the NHL).
- New York has averaged 10.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 7.0 takeaways per game (ranked 21st overall).
