The Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens meet Thursday in NHL action at the Bell Centre. Here’s a Canadiens vs Avalanche Prediction. This article will include a Canadiens vs Avalanche Pick.
Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
The Colorado Avalanche beat the Maple Leafs, lost to the Senators, and they play the Red Wings next. The Avalanche have lost 5 of their last 7 games.
The Colorado Avalanche are averaging 3.9 goals per game and are scoring on 15.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 38 goals, Cale Makar has 41 assists and Artturi Lehkonen has 122 shots on goal. Defensively, the Colorado Avalanche are allowing 2.39 goals per game and are killing 84.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Scott Wedgewood has given up 62 goals on 756 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 45 goals on 495 shots.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens lost to the Bruins, beat the Golden Knights, and they play the Sabres next. The Canadiens have split their last 10 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.36 goals per game and are scoring on 23.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 30 goals, Lane Hutson has 44 assists and Nick Suzuki has 112 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.26 goals per game and are killing 76.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 68 goals on 619 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 71 goals on 539 shots.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Canadiens have won each of their last six games as underdogs after coming off overtime.
- The Avalanche have lost four of their last five games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 14 games as underdogs.
- The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games as a favorite when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The Avalanche have lost the second period in seven of their last eight road games when trailing after the first period.
Why the Colorado Avalanche will win
- The Avalanche have won six of their last seven games following a road loss.
- The Canadiens have lost four of their last five games following a home win.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven home games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The road team has covered the puck line in four of the Canadiens’ last five games.
- The Avalanche have won the second period in each of their last six games following a road loss.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Canadiens’ last four games as home underdogs following a home win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Avalanche’s last six Thursday games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last 10 games as home underdogs.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in 14 of the Avalanche’s last 16 games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in each of the Canadiens’ last six games.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded an assist in seven of the Canadiens’ last eight games against Central Division opponents.
- Cole Caufield has scored a goal in each of his last six appearances – longest active streak in the league.
Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts
- Cale Makar has recorded at least one assist in each of the Avalanche’s last 15 Thursday games.
- Gabriel Landeskog has scored at least one goal in each of his last five appearances with the Avalanche as favorites against the Canadiens.
- Gabriel Landeskog has scored the last goal in four of his last five appearances with the Avalanche as favorites against the Canadiens.
- Nathan MacKinnon ranks 1st in the league for Goals (38) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 6th in the league for goals per game this season (3.36).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 27th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (76.88%).
- The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals per game this season (3.90).
- The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals against per game this season (2.39).
Canadiens vs Avalanche Prediction
The Avalanche are obviously the better team and should be favored, but we’re to the point where it’s probably time to start grabbing the plus money on the other side. The Avs have taken a step back defensively and this is the worst stretch of hockey they’ve played all season. The Avalanche have seen their biggest struggles come on the road as it is. The Canadiens have done enough winning to where you can feel confident about taking a shot in the home underdog spot. Give me the Habs.