Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche: NHL Odds, Prediction
Last of three meetings. Vancouver won’t make the playoffs and Colorado probably won’t, but Monday’s winner can claim season series bragging rights.
Canucks vs Avalanche Betting Analysis
The Canucks won the first matchup at home on Jan. 30, 4-3 in overtime – they haven’t won an overtime game since. Sven Baertschi scored 1:07 into OT past Jonathan Bernier. Bo Horvat, Michael Del Zotto and Daniel Sedin also scored for Vancouver, while Jacob Markstrom stopped 27 shots. None of those guys were the No. 1 star, however. Chris Tanev was with his three assists. That game was notable because the Avs lost star and leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon to an upper-body injury in the second period on a hit by Vancouver’s Alexander Edler. MacKinnon didn’t return until Feb. 18.
Last Tuesday also in Vancouver, the Avalanche won 5-4 in overtime. The Canucks blew a 4-1 second-period lead. MacKinnon scored the OT winner on the power play, and added three assists. Colorado was a ridiculous 5-for-6 with the man advantage, and that has been a weakness for the team this season. The Avs’ Tyson Barrie set a franchise record for points in a regular-season game by a defenceman with five (goal, four assists). Anders Nilsson stopped 29 shots for the Canucks, who were 1-for-3 on the power play.
In the 2016-17 season, the Canucks were 2-0 in Denver, winning both by a 3-2 score (one in a shootout). The road team has won seven of the past 10 overall in the series.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks (24-31-7) have lost their past four in the second of a back-to-back situation as they are in here. Vancouver won at Arizona, the NHL’s worst team, 3-1 on Sunday night. Daniel Sedin had both goals, his third multi-point game in the past four. He has 41 points (18 G, 23 A) on the season. Markstrom had 41 saves in his first start since Feb. 14. The Canucks scratched winger Thomas Vanek as he’s expected to be dealt somewhere by Monday afternoon’s NHL trade deadline. Vanek, who will be a free agent this summer, is tied with Sedin for second on the team with 41 points (17G, 41 A).
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche (32-24-5) completed a three-game trip through Canada at 1-1-1 following a 5-1 defeat in Calgary on Saturday. MacKinnon had the lone Colorado goal, his team-leading 26th of the season. Semyon Varlamov had 24 saves in allowing at least three goals for the third time in his past four outings. He’s 15-13-3 overall with a 2.94 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Bernier has been a bit this season but is currently sidelined due to a concussion. Varlamov has faced the Canucks 16 times in his career and is 5-10-1 with a 2.91 GAA, .900 save percentage. He has never shut them out. Colorado is a much better team at home with a 20-8-1 record and winner of 10 of its past 11 at the Pepsi Center.
