Avalanche vs. Flyers NHL Odds, Prediction and Picks: MacKinnon Leads Colorado Against Struggling Philly
The Avalanche have arguably the NHL’s best overall roster and the Flyers the worst as they meet tonight from Philadelphia on a lighter Monday around the league. Colorado is -220 on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Avalanche vs. Flyers NHL Betting Odds
Is it too early to start thinking about the 2027 NHL Draft lottery for the Philadelphia Flyers? They weren’t expected to be Stanley Cup contenders or anything, but at minimum a playoff contender after reaching the second round of last postseason in the East – swept out by eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina. It has all gone wrong so far this season under second-year coach Rich Tocchet. The Scarborough, Ontario, native also played for the Flyers among a handful of teams back in the day and is in the team’s Hall of Fame.
Colorado is as expected, batting for the most points in the Western Conference and among the NHL’s highest-scoring teams at 4.50 goals per game, second only to Edmonton. Like last season, if the Avalanche just good goaltending, not even great, they easily could win it all. The duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood has been solid so far. Do note that Monday is the front end of a back-to-back.
This marks the first of two meetings between the teams with Philadelphia likely long eliminated from playoff contention when it visits Denver on March 9. They split last season, each winning away. Blackwood was in net in both for Colorado.
Colorado Avalanche
This starts a quick two-game East Coast trip with New Jersey up next Tuesday for the Avalanche. They have been off since a 5-2 win over visiting Pittsburgh on Friday in the latest Sidney Crosby vs. Nathan MacKinnon head-to-head matchup of Canadian superstars. MacKinnon was the No. 1 star with a goal and three assists. He leads the team and is third in the league with 16 points. It was MacKinnon’s 44th career three-assist game to tied Peter Forsberg for the most in Avalanche team history (since 1995-96). Colorado was down 2-0 in the first in its first multi-goal comeback win of the season. The game was the Avalanche debut of assistant coach Brett McLean after Dave Hakstol left to take over as head coach of the men’s hockey program at Arizona State. McLean is in charge of the power-play unit, and that group was 1-for-4. Mackenzie Blackwood was in net and improved to 4-2-0 with a 2.86 GAA and .890 SV. Likely him on Monday and then Scott Wedgewood on Tuesday.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers can start a winning streak! They lost their first nine, a team record, before a 3-1 victory over visiting Ottawa on Saturday. Young forwards Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone each had a goal and an assist. Michkov (21 years, 312 days at the time) became the fifth-youngest player in team history at the time of his 50th NHL goal. It was also Philly’s first game scoring at least three on the year. Dan Vladar made 25 saves, and it’s probably him Monday. The former Calgary Flame is 1-3-1 with a 3.58 GAA. Philly already was really banged up and is listing three more forwards as iffy on Monday in Sean Couturier, Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett.
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