Two teams squaring off for the second time this year, the Colorado Avalanche and the Arizona Coyotes collide at Gila River Arena. Fox Arizona Plus will showcase this Western Conference matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 22.
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes Odds
With a moneyline of -130, Colorado comes into the game as the favorite. The line for Arizona now stands at +110, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
Colorado is 19-17 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and none have pushed. As a road team in 2018-19, the Avs are 11-9 SU.
Colorado has converted on 27.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 21st out of 31 teams, and the team’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of its penalties.
Colorado, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.2 times per game overall in the 2018-19 season, 3.6 per game over its last five outings total, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (11-12-3) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado this year. If head coach Jared Bednar decides to rest him, however, Colorado might turn to Philipp Grubauer (8-7-3 record, .905 save percentage, 2.98 goals against average).
Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Avalanche. Rantanen (58 points) is up to 16 goals and 42 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 18 different games. MacKinnon has 21 goals and 34 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 28 games).
Arizona is 14-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 34 regular season contests, 18 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 6-11 SU at home.
Arizona has converted on just 16.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 88.3 percent of all penalties.
The Coyotes have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Darcy Kuemper has stopped 27.7 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Arizona. Kuemper has four wins, 11 losses, and two overtime losses and has maintained a mediocre 2.82 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this season.
Clayton Keller (eight goals, 15 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Coyotes.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Arizona’s last five games.
- The Coyotes are 4-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-15 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Arizona is ranked 27th in the NHL with 6.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as the team has created 7.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 takeaways over its last five.
- Colorado skaters have averaged 3.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 5.2 takeaways per game (ranked 31st overall).
