The Colorado Avalanche (40-18-8) visit the Vancouver Canucks (34-26-6) in a Friday night (10 p.m. ET) tilt at Rogers Arena. We analyze the Avalanche-Canucks odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Avalanche at Canucks: Projected starting goalies
Pavel Francouz vs. Thatcher Demko
Francouz has registered a 2.29 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 30 games. He’s the de facto No. 1 netminder or the Avs right now: Philipp Grubauer has been on the shelf with a groin injury since mid-February. And Francouz is wearing it well. The 29-year-old Czech has logged a 6-0-1 record with a nifty .945 SV since Grubauer has been out.
Demko owns a 3.08 GAA and .904 SV over 24 games played. He’s coming off a shaky February (.882 SV in six outings) but is the likely starter with GT Jacob Markstrom out with a knee injury. Demko was lit up by Colorado on Nov. 16, allowing five goals on just 23 shots (.783 SV).
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Avalanche at Canucks: 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 Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Colorado 4, Vancouver 1
Moneyline (ML)
Vancouver has lost four straight and has coughed up 4.5 goals per game in the process. Colorado lost an overtime contest to Anaheim on Wednesday (March 4 was the last game date for both of these teams). That loss snapped a seven-game win streak for the Avs. Colorado is 5-2 over the first game of their last seven multi-game road trips.
The lean is on the Avalanche, but the COLORADO (-139) price is a bit high.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Avs’ recent win streak involved six one-goal games and one win by three. That flies against earlier-season trends, though. For the season Colorado is fourth in goals (3.41 per game) and fifth in goal prevention (2.67). All four games in the Canucks losing streak have been losses by two-plus. Francouz has sometimes faltered on longer rest – his last start fits that trend. But on one-day rest, the Avalanche netminder has logged a .957 SV in six such starts.
COLORADO -1.5 (+195) has excellent value and is the top play of the three listed here.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under is: 7-1 over the Avs’ last eight games … 8-0 in the Avs’ last eight road games.
The Under as a play in this one runs slightly counter to taking Colorado on the puck line. We’re on the side of Colorado by two but also on the side of the total under five. But the payoff makes doubling up a solid play. WILL TAKE THE UNDER 5.5 (+110).
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