In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks collide at the United Center in a Central Division matchup. WGN Channel 9 will air the matchup, which gets underway at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 6.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Colorado is 35-30 straight up (SU) and has earned 9.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 65 regular season contests, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just four have pushed. The Avs are 12-20 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Colorado has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.0 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Colorado has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 4.6 per game over its past five contests total, and 4.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 11.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 28.4 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (19-20-4) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado this season. If head coach Jared Bednar chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Jonathan Bernier (17-13-2), who has a .914 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Avalanche. MacKinnon (77 points) has tallied 31 goals and 46 assists, and has recorded multiple points 22 times. Rantanen has 22 goals and 42 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 39 games.
On the other side of the ice, Chicago is 28-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 34 of its games have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just three have pushed. It’s 15-17 SU as the home team this season.
Chicago has converted on just 15.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
Chicago players have been whistled for penalties only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford (27.9 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Chicago. Crawford has 16 wins, 12 losses, and two overtime losses to his credit and has registered a .929 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average this year.
The Hawks offense will be led by Patrick Kane (24 goals, 38 assists).
Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone over in three of Chicago’s last five outings.
- Colorado has managed 30.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago is averaging 38.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- The Avalanche are 16-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-20 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
- Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Chicago is 1-1 in shootouts.
- Chicago is ranked 17th in the NHL with 7.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team has forced 5.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Colorado is ranked 22nd with 6.6 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it’s managed 4.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 3.8 takeaways over its last five.
