One of the best teams in the league meets one of the worst when the Colorado Avalanche visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. The Sens have been an absolute dumpster first over the last month as they have just two wins to show for their last 15 games. Colorado has won four of five and is among the Stanley Cup favorites, so will this game go as planned or will we see a big surprise?

Avalanche vs. Senators Betting Analysis

Colorado is 15-9-2 on the road this season, including a 17-9 puck line record as the visiting team. The Avalanche are 5-0 in their last five games against Atlantic division opponents. Colorado is also 37-18 in its last 55 games when played on one day of rest and 7-3 in their last 10 Thursday night games.

Despite its struggles, Ottawa is still a decent 12-9-6 on home ice this season. Remember, that’s just 12-15 to bettors, so it’s an OK mark as they’ve been dogs numerous times but not great overall. Ottawa is 7-16 in its last 23 games versus Western Conference opponents and is just 6-17 when facing a team with a winning record this season.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avs have snapped out of a funk that saw them lose 10 times in 14 games as they’ve since won four of their last five. The most intriguing aspect of Colorado’s recent dominance is the performance of their depth forwards. Andre Burakovsky has six points in his last two games and Valeri Nichushkin has four points in his last two outings. Even with Nathan Mackinnon, Mikko Rantenen and Gabriel Landeskog leading the way up front, players like Burakovsky, Nichushkin and even defenseman Nikita Zadorov have contributed at a high level offensively.

With the offense averaging over five goals per game over their last four wins, the Avalanche haven’t needed their goaltenders to be more than just good. Philipp Grubauer owns a 2.69 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage over the last month of action. As long as he continues to perform at an average to above average level, Colorado will keep on winning games.

Ottawa Senators

For the most part, Ottawa has done a pretty decent job avoiding the basement of the NHL standings in the midst of a serious rebuild. That is until the bottom fell out in January. They are just 2-6-7 record in their last 15 games overall and the loss of netminder Anders Nilsson has been a big part of the problem. Ottawa has allowed three goals or more in five of its last six losses. The Senators also aren’t scoring many goals, coming off back-to-back losses in which they scored a total of just three goals.

The schedule won’t get any easier for Ottawa with two games against the Avalanche and a date with the Winnipeg Jets over its next three games. The Sens have been pesky at home but this figures to be too tall of an order for them.

Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Senators?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 93
+ / -	Ryan Graves 40
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 318
Penalty Mins	Nazem Kadri 97
Wins	Pavel Francouz 21
GAA	Michael Hutchinson 1

OTT

Points	Brady Tkachuk 44
+ / -	Ron Hainsey 10
Shots	Brady Tkachuk 259
Penalty Mins	Brady Tkachuk 106
Wins	Craig Anderson 11
GAA	Marcus Hogberg 3.12

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 25
+ / -	Nathan MacKinnon 13
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 65
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 18
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 5
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 1.87

OTT

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

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Senators Team Leaders

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 93
+ / -	Ryan Graves 40
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 318
Penalty Mins	Nazem Kadri 97
Wins	Pavel Francouz 21
GAA	Michael Hutchinson 1

OTT

Points	Brady Tkachuk 44
+ / -	Ron Hainsey 10
Shots	Brady Tkachuk 259
Penalty Mins	Brady Tkachuk 106
Wins	Craig Anderson 11
GAA	Marcus Hogberg 3.12

COL

Points	Nathan MacKinnon 25
+ / -	Nathan MacKinnon 13
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 65
Penalty Mins	Nikita Zadorov 18
Wins	Philipp Grubauer 5
GAA	Philipp Grubauer 1.87

OTT

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

Injuries

Colorado

Conor Timmins (D)

Out Fri Upper Body - 03 / 09 / 20

Gabriel Landeskog (LW)

Out Fri Knee - 02 / 09 / 20

Pavel Francouz (G)

Out Fri Undisclosed - 31 / 08 / 20

Nikita Zadorov (D)

Prob Sun Undisclosed - 27 / 08 / 20

Joonas Donskoi (RW)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 26 / 08 / 20

Matt Calvert (LW)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 23 / 08 / 20

Philipp Grubauer (G)

out for season Groin - 22 / 08 / 20

Erik Johnson (D)

out for season Knee - 22 / 08 / 20

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Prob Wed Foot - 18 / 08 / 20

Joonas Donskoi (RW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 08 / 20

Ottawa

Artem Anisimov (C)

day-to-day Concussion - 03 / 03 / 20

Marcus Hogberg (G)

Prob Tues Personal - 02 / 03 / 20

Colin White (C)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 24 / 02 / 20

Thomas Chabot (D)

Ques Mon Lower Body - 22 / 02 / 20

Tyler Ennis (RW)

Out Sat Coach's Decision - 22 / 02 / 20

Vladislav Namestnikov (LW)

Out Sat Coach's Decision - 21 / 02 / 20

Vladislav Namestnikov (LW)

Out Thurs Coach's Decision - 20 / 02 / 20

Tyler Ennis (RW)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 20

Mark Borowiecki (D)

day-to-day Ankle - 14 / 02 / 20

Mark Borowiecki (D)

Prob Thurs Personal - 07 / 02 / 20

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Conor Timmins (D)	Out Fri	Upper Body - 03 / 09 / 20	1-0	0-1	+ -
Timmins is managing an upper-body injury, and he will not lace up for Game 7 of the Western Conference first round versus the Stars.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW)	Out Fri	Knee - 02 / 09 / 20	2-0	1-1	+ -
Landeskog is bothered by a right knee laceration, and he will not take on the Stars in Game 7 of the Western Conference second round.
Pavel Francouz (G)	Out Fri	Undisclosed - 31 / 08 / 20	2-1	2-1	+ -
Francouz is battling an injury to an unannounced location, and he will not be available for Game 7 of the Western Conference first round against the Stars.
Nikita Zadorov (D)	Prob Sun	Undisclosed - 27 / 08 / 20	3-2	4-1	+ -
Zadorov is dealing with an ailment to an unlisted area, but he is expected to be available for Game 4 of the Western Conference second round versus the Stars.
Joonas Donskoi (RW)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 26 / 08 / 20	3-2	4-1	+ -
Donskoi is nursing an undefined ailment, and he is not expected to return to action for the foreseeable future.
Matt Calvert (LW)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 23 / 08 / 20	3-3	5-1	+ -
Calvert has an unspecified injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Philipp Grubauer (G)	out for season	Groin - 22 / 08 / 20	4-3	6-1	+ -
Grubauer sustained a groin injury that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.
Erik Johnson (D)	out for season	Knee - 22 / 08 / 20	4-3	6-1	+ -
Johnson is out of commission with a right knee injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Prob Wed	Foot - 18 / 08 / 20	5-3	7-1	+ -
Burakovsky is tending to a foot injury but is projected to lace up for Game 5 of the Western Conference versus the Coyotes.
Joonas Donskoi (RW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 14 / 08 / 20	6-5	8-3	+ -
Donski is dealing with an unspecified injury, and it is unclear if he will lace up for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Coyotes.

Ottawa

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Artem Anisimov (C)	day-to-day	Concussion - 03 / 03 / 20	2-3	4-1	+ -
Anisimov is suffering from a concussion, but it is projected that he will pass protocol before the league gets back into action.
Marcus Hogberg (G)	Prob Tues	Personal - 02 / 03 / 20	2-3	4-1	+ -
Hogberg is away from the team due to a family matter, but he is expected to return Tuesday against the Ducks.
Colin White (C)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 24 / 02 / 20	5-4	6-3	+ -
White is sidelined due to an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will make his return Tuesday against the Penguins.
Thomas Chabot (D)	Ques Mon	Lower Body - 22 / 02 / 20	5-5	6-4	+ -
Chabot left Monday's game with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Blue Jackets on Monday.
Tyler Ennis (RW)	Out Sat	Coach's Decision - 22 / 02 / 20	5-5	6-4	+ -
Ennis will not be available Saturday versus the Canadiens for precautionary reasons as the trade deadline is near.
Vladislav Namestnikov (LW)	Out Sat	Coach's Decision - 21 / 02 / 20	6-5	7-4	+ -
Namestnikov will not participate in Saturday's game against the Canadiens for precautionary reasons as the trade deadline approaches.
Vladislav Namestnikov (LW)	Out Thurs	Coach's Decision - 20 / 02 / 20	6-5	7-4	+ -
Namestnikov will not play Thursday against the Jets as he is to be held out as a precautionary measure ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.
Tyler Ennis (RW)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 20	8-6	8-6	+ -
Ennis is expected to be available against the Maple Leaf son Saturday despite an undefined injury.
Mark Borowiecki (D)	day-to-day	Ankle - 14 / 02 / 20	8-7	8-7	+ -
Borowiecki has been placed on the injured reserve list due to a high-ankle sprain. He is expected to be activated once the league resumes play.
Mark Borowiecki (D)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 07 / 02 / 20	8-10	9-9	+ -
Borowiecki has missed the past two games as he is away from the team for the birth of his child. But he is expected to be available Thursday versus the Coyotes.