Colorado Avalanche vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, NHL Odds

Nik Kowalski | Updated Nov 21, 2024

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The Washington Capitals begin a stretch without Alexander Ovechkin when they host the Colorado Avalanche Thursday evening.

Colorado
28-19-1-1
AT
November 21, 2024, 7:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena
Washington
33-10-3-2
Puckline -1.5 +170
Moneyline -150
Over / Under o +6
Matchup Odds
Puckline +1.5 -210
Moneyline +125
Over / Under u +6
Matchup Odds

Ovechkin’s 15 goals in Washington’s first 18 games this season has not only generated a ton of buzz around the NHL’s all-time goals record, but also elevated the Caps into the second spot in the Metropolitan Division with a 13-4-1 record. Ovechkin is now week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Backed behind their top-end talent, Colorado’s gaining some much-needed steam with wins in four of their last five outings. Defenceman Cale Makar scored twice in Colorado’s most recent outing, a 3-2 win over Philadelphia. Makar now has eight goals and 27 points on the season; no other defenceman has over five goals or 20 points.

Puck drop at Capital One Arena begins at 7 p.m. EST with the Avalanche a -140 moneyline favourite on the road and the over-under at 6.5 on the NHL odds.

Avalanche vs. Capitals NHL Betting Odds

Washington’s league-best 4.33 goals per game are going to get put to the test without Ovechkin. Over a three game win streak, Washington’s scored a minimum of five goals in each victory. The over is 11-5-2 in Capitals contests this season, and has hit in five straight games. Colorado’s 3.68 goals against per game rank third-worst in the NHL too.

NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon is currently +170 to win the Art Ross as the NHL’s points leader, is has -110 odds to register over 1.5 points against Washington. Mackinnon’s had multiple points in four of Colorado’s eight games this month and has registered at least three points three times. In 20 career games against Washington, MacKinnon has 11 goals and 17 assists.

Colorado Avalanche

Despite all the success of MacKinnon, Makar, and Mikko Rantanen for Colorado this season… all three were held off the scoresheet in Colorado’s 5-2 loss versus Washington last Friday. And two things hold true with the Avalanche this season: if these three superstar get going or the Avs allow fewer than four goals, Colorado’s pretty unbeatable.

Outside of last Friday’s loss, the Avs have done a fine job this month. Colorado is 5-3 this month and all three of their last victories have seen them allow exactly two goals. Goaltending’s been an extreme weak point for Colorado this season with four goalies who have made appearances combining for an .872 save percentage. In goaltending news, Alexandar Georgiev may return to the crease after sitting out with an upper-body injury since November 13.

Washington Capitals

To say Thursday will be the beginning of unchartered territory for the Capitals is an understatement — and that’s in relation to the absence of an injured Alexander Ovechkin. During Ovechkin’s 20 NHL seasons, his longest absence was six games for a lower-body injury in 2009. In his career Ovechkin has missed 59 games.

The good news is Washington’s been getting increased scoring from the majority of their roster. Connor McMichael, who scored twice against Colorado last Friday, has 12 goals on the season which is six back of his career high set in 80 games played last year. Aliaksei Protas, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, Jakob Chychrun, and Nic Dowd have all chipped in this season with at least five goals too. But Thursday will be an early tell to how much Ovechkin was driving it all.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Capitals?

NHL Predictions
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  • COL
  • -150 +125
  • WAS
Matchup NHL Odds