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The Anaheim Ducks (2-1-0) and Colorado Avalanche (0-4-0) meet in a Friday Western Conference tussle in Denver. The Ball Arena puck drop will be at 9 p.m. (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Ducks vs. Avalanche odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Colorado won last season’s series, going 2-0-1
Anaheim earned a 5-4 home win in its last game. In that contest (Wednesday vs. Utah Hockey Club), the Ducks prevailed despite coming up empty on 5 man-advantage opportunities. For the season, the club is 0-for-11 on the power play.
The winless Avs last played Wednesday, dropping a 5-3 game to the Boston Bruins on home ice. Three of the club’s 4 losses — each of the last 3 — have been at home. Colorado has a sub-.800 save percentage and has coughed up 25 goals through 4 games.
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Ducks at Avalanche odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Ducks +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Avalanche -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Puck Line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Ducks +1.5 (-115) | Avalanche -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Ducks at Avalanche projected goalies
Lukas Dostal (2-0-0, 1.99 GAA, .933 SV%) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (0-3-0, 5.79 GAA, .800 SV%)
Dostal’s last game was Wednesday vs. Utah; he stopped 26 of 30 pucks in a win. The Avs victimized him for 8 goals on 38 shots in an 8-2 finish last season.
Georgiev is expected to be back at it after starting Wednesday and allowing 4 goals on 24 shots. The veteran has certainly scuffled so far but should be happy to see the Ducks, who he filed a .920 SV% in 2 outings against last season.
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Ducks at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 4, Ducks 2
Moneyline
PASS: no interest here.
Puck line/Against the spread
Across 3 series meetings last season, Colorado won twice, outscoring Anaheim 14-8. The last 10 Ducks-Avs meetings have netted 8 Colorado wins, and 6 of those have been by multi-goal margins.
The Avs have actually been solid in even-strength play, They’ve been undone by 5 power-play goals and 1 short-handed score. Puck-possession analytics have been solid.
The Ducks have been much traveled early.
FanDuel Sportsbook has a better price on the home side here. BACK COLORADO -1.5 (+100).
Over/Under
The Under has prevailed by multi-goal margins in 2 of the Ducks 1st 3 games.
With Anaheim struggling to create 5-on-5, high-danger looks and power-play goals, look for a due-for-better-days Colorado club to prevail around a 4-2 tally.
TAKE THE UNDER 6.5 (+105).
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