Two teams that split their head-to-head series 1-1 a year ago, the Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings meet at Little Caesars Arena in an East-versus-West tilt. The match gets going at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 19 and its being shown live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
The Red Wings are 10-10 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 1.6 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 33-49 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Out of its 20 regular season outings, 11 of them have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and none have pushed. Thus far, the teams 4-4 SU at home.
Detroit has converted on 21.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and its successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all penalties.
Detroit, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, 4.6 per game over its last five matchups total, and 4.2 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 28.9 saves per game with a .931 save percentage, Jimmy Howard (8-7-1) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Red Wings this year. If the Wings choose to give him the night off, however, it may roll with Petr Mrazek (2-4-4 record, .911 save percentage, 2.98 goals against average).
The Wings will continue looking for offensive production from Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin. Mantha (19 points) has tallied 10 goals and nine assists and has recorded multiple points in five different games this year. Larkin has four goals and 15 assists to his name and has notched a point in 13 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Colorado is 9-9 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.4 units this season. Through 18 regular season outings, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. Colorados 3-7 SU as the visiting team this season.
Colorado has converted on 19.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark thats right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and its successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all penalties.
Colorados skaters have been penalized 4.8 times per game in total this season, 5.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 5.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 14.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Semyon Varlamov (3.23 goals against average and .903 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 30.2 saves per game and owns a 7-5-1 record.
Nathan MacKinnon (six goals, 14 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The under has hit in three of Detroits last five games.
- The Avalanche are 3-3 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Red Wings are 6-4 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Detroit has managed 6.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 6.7 takeaways per game (ranked 20th in the NHL).
- Colorado skaters have managed 6.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.3 takeaways per game (ranked 11th in the league).
