In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche and the Arizona Coyotes meet at Gila River Arena in a Western Conference tilt. Altitude 2 will showcase the game, and the puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 23.
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes Odds
Colorado is 16-18 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.7 units this year. Through 34 regular season matches, 20 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Avalanche team is 6-11 SU on the road.
Colorado has converted on 18.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.1 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Avs have been penalized 4.2 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.8 per game over its last five contests. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .908 save percentage and 28.8 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (11-11-2) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado this year. If head coach Jared Bednar chooses to rest him, however, Colorado might go with Jonathan Bernier (5-8-1), who has a .893 save percentage and 3.29 goals against average this year.
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will both be offensive focal points for the visiting Avalanche. MacKinnon has 40 points on 15 goals and 25 assists, and has recorded multiple points 12 times. Rantanen has 10 goals and 20 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 20 games).
Over on the other bench, Arizona is 8-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 37 regular season outings, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 4-12 SU at home this year.
The Coyotes have converted on just 15.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Arizona players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has four wins, 13 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has maintained a .916 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this season.
Clayton Keller (13 goals, 15 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Coyotes.
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Arizona is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in four of Arizona’s last five outings.
- Over Colorado’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
- The Coyotes this season have recorded the fourth-most hits per game (24.1), but the club has averaged 28.0 over their last five games as the home team.
