The Colorado Avalanche (41-20-8) host the New York Rangers (37-28-4) Wednesday at Pepsi Center for a 10 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Rangers-Avalanche sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Rangers at Avalanche: Projected starting goalies
Alexandar Georgiev vs. Pavel Francouz
Georgiev snapped out of a mini two-game slide Thursday, giving up five goals on 34 shots but getting an OT win over the Washington Capitals on home ice. He is now 17-14-1 with a .910 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average through 31 starts and two relief appearances.
Francouz is 20-7-4 with a .922 SV% and 2.43 GAA through 30 starts and three relief appearances in his rookie season. He lost two of his last three games on the road, and he returns home where he has a .905 SV% and 2.84 GAA in 16 games.
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Rangers at Avalanche: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 2:55 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Avalanche 5, Rangers 4
Moneyline (ML)
The Rangers (+145) kicked off a three-game road trip with a 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars Tuesday to improve to 6-4 across their last 10 games and 19-12-2 on the road for the season. The AVALANCHE (-176) took a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Monday to wrap up a 1-2 road trip, but they return home to where they’re 17-9-6 on the season. They’re also 7-2-1 across their last 10 games overall.
The Avs are comfortably in second place in the Central Division, while the Rangers are fighting for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Back the rested hosts with the Rangers playing in their third different time zone since Saturday.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Back the RANGERS (+1.5, -189) to stay within 1 goal in a loss as a hedge against the pick of the Avs on the moneyline. Francouz has oddly struggled in his home rink, and has given up at least three goals in each of his last four games overall.
Colorado is 35-34 ATS overall and just 16-16 at home. New York is 43-26 ATS overall and 23-10 on the road.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Rangers to lose by 1 goal or win outright returns a profit of $5.29.
Over/Under (O/U)
Roll with the OVER 5.5 (-134). The Avs are just 3-7 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games, but the Rangers are 8-2 against the number in the same time span. New York has scored at least four goals in three straight games, while Colorado averages 3.63 goals scored per game on home ice.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 277-261
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