Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and the Colorado Avalanche will face off against Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in a divisional showdown. The action will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 18, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Colorado (-145) is currently favored over Chicago (+125), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).
Colorado is 21-12 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 9.5 units this season. Through 33 regular season contests, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2019-20 Avalanche team is 11-7 SU on the road.
Colorado has converted on 19.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it has successfully killed off only 77.4 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 27.4 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Philipp Grubauer (11-8-2) has been the best option in goal for Colorado this year. If Colorado chooses to rest him, however, head coach Jared Bednar may turn to Pavel Francouz (10-4-1), who has a .932 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average this year.
On the other side of the rink, Chicago is 13-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 34 regular season outings, 18 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 8-10 SU at home this year.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 16.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all penalties.
Robin Lehner has denied 32.4 shots per game as the top netminder in the crease for the Blackhawks. Lehner has seven wins, 11 losses, and five OT losses to his credit and has maintained a .924 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average this season.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Blackhawks (1-4 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. The Avalanche has yet to participate in one this year.
- Colorado has managed 27.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago has been attempting 33.6 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Eight of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 7-1 in those games.
- The Hawks this season have tallied the seventh-most hits per game in the NHL (24.8), but the team’s averaged 29.4 over their last five games as the home team.
