The Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche tangle in Game 2 of their Western Conference First-Round series Friday at 2 p.m. We analyze the Coyotes-Avalanche NHL betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
The Avs scored a trio of third-period goals in quick succession in winning Game 1 at Rogers Center in Edmonton, AB. The 2-7 matchup features Colorado as the home team for Games 1 and 2 and the Avs will have the advantage of last change.
Coyotes vs. Avalanche: Projected starting goalies
Darcy Kuemper vs. Philipp Grubauer
Kuemper was solid in Arizona’s qualification round series win over the Nashville Predators with .933 save percentage over four starts. During the regular season, the 30-year-old veteran recorded a goals against average of 2.22 on the strength of a .928 SV%. Kuemper faced Colorado once during the regular season and stopped all 33 shots in an Arizona shootout victory Nov. 2.
Grubauer registered a 2.63 GAA and .916 SV% during the regular season. The 28-year-old netminder faced just 14 shots in Wednesday’s shutout win.
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Coyotes vs. Avalanche: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:40 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Avalanche 3, Coyotes 1
Moneyline (ML)
Game 1 was a scoreless hockey game for over 50 minutes, but puck-possession and expected-goal analytics tilted heavily toward Colorado. A staunch and under-appreciated Avs defense held the Coyotes to just 14 shots in the contest. Only three of those were from the high-danger area of the slot.
Still, a taut and low-scoring affair went off with the No. 2-seed pegged at -182. It’s hard to justify Colorado at -200 Friday afternoon. A price close to +185 would make for a play on the ‘Yotes, but LAY OFF Arizona at +165.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Its a tough needle to thread, figuring a low total (see below) and taking a goal-and-half favorite on the puck line. But the price on COLORADO -1.5 (+135) is solid.
Over/Under (O/U)
The underside of 5.5 goals has been hammered, but these foes have battled to some low totals the last couple years and the Under is 5-0 in their last five meetings. On Friday’s total — UNDER 5.5 (-134) — be ready to pounce on a swing back to -130.
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