The Colorado Avalanche (39-18-7) visit the Detroit Red Wings (15-47-5) for a 7:30 p.m. ET contest at Little Caesar’s Arena Monday. We analyze the Avalanche-Red Wings odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Avalanche at Red Wings: Projected starting goalies
Pavel Francouz vs. Jonathan Bernier
Francouz has started eight straight games for the Avalanche. The last six have been quality starts, and over that stretch, the 29-year-old rookie is 6-0 with a .957 save percentage. Four of those six turns have been on the road where Francouz has been terrific (1.64 goals against average and .951 SV%). For the season, he has notched a 2.24 GAA and .929 SV%. Francouz backs a defense which has killed 18 straight penalties.
Bernier owns a 2.94 GAA and .907 SV% through 42 games (37 starts). He has logged a .893 SV% over his last 10 games, although that coincides with a period in which the Wings put heavy pressure on their goaltenders with a spike in penalties to kill. It has been a factor in Detroit allowing 33.1 shots per game over its last eight games.
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Avalanche at Red Wings: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:35 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Colorado 4, Detroit 1
Moneyline (ML)
I pegged the Avs as my main Stanley Cup darkhorse play since they went 17-14-5 from late-October to mid-January. I’ve had them going as one of my main second-half plays, and they haven’t disappointed. Even the Colorado (-304) line here has a bit of a bargain attached, but PASS in favor of the better play on the puck line.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Colorado’s multi-goal wins are outpacing their one-goal victories, 27-12. Detroit has lost by two or more in 40-of-52 losses.
The Avs defeated the Wings 6-3 Jan. 20 and are a combined 5-1 against the worst four teams in the league. Four of those five wins have been by three or more goals. COLORADO (-1.5, -110) is a strong play.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under is 9-1 in Colorado’s last 10 games. In the six highlighted games against bottom-feeders, the Under has gone 5-1.
The Under has a nice price here. PLAY THE UNDER 5.5 (+115).
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