The Canucks and Avalanche will meet for the second time in a week when they face off in Vancouver Wednesday night.  Colorado crushed Vancouver 7-1 on the backs of six different goal scorers in their only other meeting of the year.  The Canucks have lost four straight games and come into this one following a 5-1 loss in Anaheim on Sunday.  After a slow start to the year, the Avs now have four wins in their last six games, including a 6-2 win against San Jose on Saturday.

Colorado is a -159 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.

Avalanche vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds

Aside from last week’s blowout, this head-to-head series has actually been fairly close, with the teams splitting the last 10 meetings.  The Over hit in six of those 10 games, including the last three.  There’s not much faith in Vancouver for this one, as about 75 per cent of Sports interaction bettors are taking the Avs.  Almost 70 per cent of action is taking the Over.

After a slow start to the season, Colorado has won two of their last three road games.  Covering has been another story, however, as the Avalanche are 0-5 against the spread on the road this year and 4-8 ATS overall.  The total has gone Over in five of their last six games overall and six of their last seven on the road.

The tough end to last season has carried over into this year as the Canucks have dropped five of their last six games.  They’re 8-8 ATS for the season, covering in four of seven home games.  The total has gone Over in four of Vancouver’s last five games overall, but it’s worth noting that the Under has hit in six of seven home games.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche offence has finally come alive as they’ve scored 13 goals over their last two games.  Samuel Girard and Nazem Kadri had huge games against San Jose.  Girard finished with a goal and three assists, while Kadri added a goal and two assists.  Rookie Alex Newhook scored his first career NHL goal, while Andre Burakovsky, Logan O’Connor and Devon Toews also found the back of the net.  The Avs have had 10 different goal scorers in their last two games.  Kadri leads the team with 14 points (4G, 10A) in 12 games.  Secondary scoring is going to be essential for Colorado as Nathan MacKinnon (1G, 9A in eight games) is expected to miss at least three weeks with a lower-body injury.

Darcy Kuemper stopped 28 of 29 shots faced against the Sharks and is expected to get the start on Wednesday.  He had 21 saves against Vancouver last week.  In his first season with the Avalanche, Kuemper is 6-4-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.

Vancouver Canucks

Not much has gone right in Vancouver this year, including their recent three-game road trip that ended with no points in the standings.  Nils Hoglander was the only goal scorer in the loss against Anaheim.  Leading scorer J.T. Miller (7G, 11A) assisted on the goal.  Jaroslav Halak stopped 33 of 37 shots in the loss, but Thatcher Demko should get the start against Colorado.  Demko is 5-6-1 this year, posting a 3.33 GAA and .898 SV.  It’s been a disappointing start for a goalie who was expected to challenge Connor Hellebuyck for the starter’s role with Team USA in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

It’s tough to find positives for the Canucks right now, as they rank near the bottom of the NHL in most statistical categories.  Vancouver is 26th in goals per game (2.50), 27th in goals against (3.38), 24th in power play percentage (15.3 per cent) and dead last in penalty kill percentage (62.3 per cent).

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Canucks?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

VAN

Points	J.T. Miller 99
+ / -	Conor Garland 18
Shots	J.T. Miller 206
Penalty Mins	Tyler Myers 66
Wins	Thatcher Demko 33
GAA	Spencer Martin 1.74

COL

Points	Cale Makar 29
+ / -	Bowen Byram 15
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 117
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 20
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 10
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.57

VAN

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Canucks Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

VAN

Points	J.T. Miller 99
+ / -	Conor Garland 18
Shots	J.T. Miller 206
Penalty Mins	Tyler Myers 66
Wins	Thatcher Demko 33
GAA	Spencer Martin 1.74

COL

Points	Cale Makar 29
+ / -	Bowen Byram 15
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 117
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 20
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 10
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.57

VAN

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

Injuries

Colorado

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 26 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Ques Tues Hand - 19 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Prob Wed Lower Body - 12 / 06 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Sat Hand - 07 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Ques Mon Leg - 02 / 06 / 22

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Ques Mon Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 22

Gabriel Landeskog (LW)

Prob Tues Knee - 30 / 05 / 22

Samuel Girard (D)

out for season Chest - 21 / 05 / 22

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Prob Tues Eye - 07 / 05 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Vancouver

William Lockwood (RW)

Ques Fri Upper Body - 27 / 04 / 22

Travis Dermott (D)

Prob Thurs Illness - 27 / 04 / 22

Jaroslav Halak (G)

out for season Hand - 20 / 04 / 22

Bo Horvat (C)

Early May Lower Body - 15 / 04 / 22

Tanner Pearson (LW)

Out Fri Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22

Brock Boeser (RW)

Prob Mon Arm - 05 / 04 / 22

Quinn Hughes (D)

Prob Sat Illness - 05 / 04 / 22

Tucker Poolman (D)

out for season Migraine - 03 / 04 / 22

Bo Horvat (C)

Prob Sun Illness - 31 / 03 / 22

Matthew Highmore (C)

Prob Mon Upper Body - 26 / 03 / 22

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 26 / 06 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Nichushkin is tending to a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Lighting in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Ques Tues	Hand - 19 / 06 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Burakovsky is dealing with a hand injury, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Prob Wed	Lower Body - 12 / 06 / 22	2-4	4-2	+ -
Burakovsky is battling a lower-back injury, but it is anticipated that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Lightning.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Sat	Hand - 07 / 06 / 22	2-4	4-2	+ -
Cogliano is managing a hand injury, but it is likely that he will participate in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Lightning.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Ques Mon	Leg - 02 / 06 / 22	5-4	5-4	+ -
Burakovsky is bothered by right leg injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will face the Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Ques Mon	Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 22	5-5	5-5	+ -
Kuemper is tending to an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals versus the Oilers.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW)	Prob Tues	Knee - 30 / 05 / 22	5-5	5-5	+ -
Landeskog is expected to lace up for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Oilers despite a knee issue.
Samuel Girard (D)	out for season	Chest - 21 / 05 / 22	7-7	8-6	+ -
Girard suffered a fractured sternum and will miss the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Prob Tues	Eye - 07 / 05 / 22	9-9	10-8	+ -
Kuemper is tending to a eye injury, but it is likely that he will be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22	10-10	11-9	+ -
Cogliano is managing an upper-body issue, but it is expected that he will be available against the Blues for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.

Vancouver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
William Lockwood (RW)	Ques Fri	Upper Body - 27 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Lockwood has been absent from the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, leaving his availability for Friday's tilt with the Oilers clouded.
Travis Dermott (D)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 27 / 04 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Dermott was held out of the last game with an illness, but it is projected that he will participate in Thursday's clash with the Kings.
Jaroslav Halak (G)	out for season	Hand - 20 / 04 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Halak is idle with a hand injury, and it is unliekly that he will return for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Bo Horvat (C)	Early May	Lower Body - 15 / 04 / 22	4-4	7-1	+ -
Horvat is idle due to a lower-body injury, and it is projected that he will be sidelined until the early part of May.
Tanner Pearson (LW)	Out Fri	Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22	7-4	8-1-2	+ -
Pearson has been out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and he will not play against the Oilers on Friday.
Brock Boeser (RW)	Prob Mon	Arm - 05 / 04 / 22	8-4	8-2-2	+ -
Boeser has missed the previous three games with an arm injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Stars on Monday.
Quinn Hughes (D)	Prob Sat	Illness - 05 / 04 / 22	8-4	8-2-2	+ -
Hughes has sat out the last two games due to an illness, but it is likely that he will suit up for Saturday's matchup against the Sharks.
Tucker Poolman (D)	out for season	Migraine - 03 / 04 / 22	9-4	9-2-2	+ -
Poolman is expected to miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to migraines stemming from a previous head injury, and he has been shifted to the long-term injured reserve list.
Bo Horvat (C)	Prob Sun	Illness - 31 / 03 / 22	9-5	9-3-2	+ -
Hovart exited the last contest due to a non-COVID-19 illness, but it is expected that he will suit up against the Golden Knights on Sunday.
Matthew Highmore (C)	Prob Mon	Upper Body - 26 / 03 / 22	11-5	9-5-2	+ -
Highmore has been out of commission due to an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will return to the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Stars.