The Colorado Avalanche are playing their best hockey of the season as they welcome the Washington Capitals to Denver on Tuesday.
How much the Avs are favored by on the NHL odds will depend in part on the availability of Caps star Alex Ovechkin.
Capitals vs. Avalanche NHL Betting Odds
Tuesday is the final meeting of the season between the teams, although a matchup in the Stanley Cup Final is possible. Washington is a +1842 longer shot to win the Eastern Conference, but Colorado is the +297 favourite in the West.
On Nov. 19 in Washington, D.C., the Avalanche won 4-0, scoring at least once in each period with goals from Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Andrew Cogliano and Artturi Lehkonen. Alexandar Georgiev had 32 saves. The Capitals outshot the Avalanche 32-29 and dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 59.3 per cent of draws. Washington also had 16 takeaways and only six giveaways. Darcy Kuemper took the loss in net – he helped lead Colorado to the 2022 Stanley Cup title but left in free agency.
Washington is still 12-3 in the past 15 meetings.
Washington Capitals
Washington played without leading scorer and all-time great Alex Ovechkin (30G, 22A) on Saturday and not surprisingly was blown out 6-2 at Vegas, which led 5-0 late in the second. TJ Oshie (10th of season) and Marcus Johansson (12th) had the Caps goals. Darcy Kuemper gave up four goals on 18 shots before being pulled, and Charlie Lindgren gave up two goals on nine shots in relief. Not clear who may start here of if Ovechkin will play as of this writing. Oshie will not as he left the club for the birth of his child. He has five goals and one assist in 10 games since returning from an upper-body injury. Washington is 9-2 in its past 11 road games.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado appears to have shed its Stanley Cup hangover on a five-game winning streak following a 2-1 shootout win in Seattle on Saturday. Nathan MacKinnon scored the lone goal of the shootout, and Alex Newhook (10th of season) had Colorado’s regulation goal. Pavel Francouz stopped 26 shots. He basically splits time with Alexander Georgiev, so not clear who may go Tuesday. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar (13G, 30A) hasn’t played since Jan. 16 due to an undisclosed injury but was close on Saturday and would seem to have a good chance here. Colorado is 7-2 in its past nine vs. Metropolitan Division foes.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Capitals vs. Avalanche?
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WASHINGTON CAPITALS
3 -
COLORADO AVALANCHE
4
Score Prediction
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 24 Jan 3:40am | WAS | -1.5 +157 | O +6 -105 |
| Closing 25 Jan 1:35am | WAS | -1.5 +179 | U +6 -118 |
- Regular Season
Capitals Team Leaders
| Points |
69 |
| + / - |
11 |
| Shots |
278 |
| Penalty Mins |
57 |
| Wins |
20 |
| GAA |
2.77 |
| Points |
90 |
| + / - |
30 |
| Shots |
306 |
| Penalty Mins |
62 |
| Wins |
32 |
| GAA |
2.15 |
- Regular Season
Avalanche Team Leaders
| Points |
69 |
| + / - |
11 |
| Shots |
278 |
| Penalty Mins |
57 |
| Wins |
20 |
| GAA |
2.77 |
| Points |
90 |
| + / - |
30 |
| Shots |
306 |
| Penalty Mins |
62 |
| Wins |
32 |
| GAA |
2.15 |
Injuries
Trevor van Riemsdyk (D)
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C)
Darcy Kuemper (G)
Nick Jensen (D)
Sonny Milano (LW)
Martin Fehervary (D)
Nick Jensen (D)
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C)
Marcus Johansson (LW)
Anthony Mantha (RW)
Evan Rodrigues (C)
Artturi Lehkonen (LW)
Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Josh Manson (D)
Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Pavel Francouz (G)
Erik Johnson (D)
Evan Rodrigues (C)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor van Riemsdyk (D) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 21 / 03 / 23 | 0-2 | 2-0 | + - |
|
van Riemsdyk is away from the team for the birth of his child, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) | Ques Tues | Upper Body - 19 / 03 / 23 | 0-3 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Kuznetsov was removed from the last game with an upper-body issue, leaving his availability for Tuesday's showdown with the Blue Jackets in question. |
|||||
| Darcy Kuemper (G) | Ques Thurs | Upper Body - 18 / 03 / 23 | 0-3 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Kuemper has been held out of the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against the Blackhawks on Thursday. |
|||||
| Nick Jensen (D) | Ques Tues | Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23 | 0-4 | 4-0 | + - |
|
Jensen has missed the last two games due to an upper-body injury, leaving his status for Tuesday's battle with the Blue Jackets up in the air. |
|||||
| Sonny Milano (LW) | Ques Fri | Illness - 13 / 03 / 23 | 1-5 | 6-0 | + - |
|
Milano was held out of the previous two games with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Blues on Friday. |
|||||
| Martin Fehervary (D) | Ques Sat | Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23 | 3-8 | 8-3 | + - |
|
Fehervary has sat out the last three games due to a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be available for Saturday's tilt with the Islanders. |
|||||
| Nick Jensen (D) | Ques Sat | Upper Body - 02 / 03 / 23 | 3-8 | 8-3 | + - |
|
Jensen has missed the previous three contests with an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will lace up against the Islanders on Saturday. |
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| Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) | Ques Wed | Illness - 28 / 02 / 23 | 3-8 | 8-3 | + - |
|
Kuznetsov is nursing an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will hit the ice against the Ducks on Wednesday. |
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| Marcus Johansson (LW) | Ques Wed | Illness - 25 / 02 / 23 | 4-9 | 9-4 | + - |
|
Johansson has sat out the last two contests due to an illness, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Wednesday's matchup versus the Ducks. |
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| Anthony Mantha (RW) | Ques Wed | Upper Body - 21 / 02 / 23 | 4-11 | 9-6 | + - |
|
Mantha has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be confirmed if he will face off against the Ducks on Wednesday. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan Rodrigues (C) | Out indefinitely | Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23 | 2-1 | 1-1-1 | + - |
|
Rodrigues is going through the concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen when he will return to the lineup. |
|||||
| Artturi Lehkonen (LW) | Late April | Finger - 14 / 03 / 23 | 4-2 | 3-2-1 | + - |
|
Lehkonen is idle after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks. |
|||||
| Kurtis MacDermid (D) | Prob Mon | Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23 | 5-5 | 4-5-1 | + - |
|
MacDermid has been out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will return against the Blackhawks on Monday. |
|||||
| Valeri Nichushkin (RW) | Ques Sat | Illness - 03 / 03 / 23 | 5-7 | 6-5-1 | + - |
|
Nichushkin is ailing from an illness, and it is up in the air if he will dress for Saturday's battle against the Stars. |
|||||
| Josh Manson (D) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23 | 6-7 | 6-6-1 | + - |
|
Manson is idle due to lower-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date. |
|||||
| Kurtis MacDermid (D) | Ques Tues | Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23 | 8-7 | 6-7-2 | + - |
|
MacDermid has been absent from the last four games while going through the league's concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen if he will be available Tuesday against the Sharks. |
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| Valeri Nichushkin (RW) | Ques Wed | Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23 | 12-8 | 9-9-2 | + - |
|
Nichushkin is battling an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will line up for Wednesday's matchup versus the Wild. |
|||||
| Pavel Francouz (G) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 13 / 02 / 23 | 12-8 | 9-9-2 | + - |
|
Francouz is idle with a lower-body injury, and a timetable for recovery has yet to be established. |
|||||
| Erik Johnson (D) | Early April | Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23 | 12-9 | 9-10-2 | + - |
|
Johnson has been designated to the injured reserve list with a broken ankle, and he will remain idle until at least the beginning of April. |
|||||
| Evan Rodrigues (C) | Ques Sat | Face - 09 / 02 / 23 | 13-9 | 9-11-2 | + - |
|
Rodrigues was removed from the previous game due to a facial injury, and it is unknown if he will take part in Saturday's clash with the Panthers. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 24 Jan 3:40am WAS -1.5 +157 O +6 -105 Closing 25 Jan 1:35am WAS -1.5 +179 U +6 -118 -
- Regular Season
Capitals Team Leaders
Points 69
+ / - 11
Shots 278
Penalty Mins 57
Wins 20
GAA 2.77
Points 90
+ / - 30
Shots 306
Penalty Mins 62
Wins 32
GAA 2.15
-
- Regular Season
Avalanche Team Leaders
Points 69
+ / - 11
Shots 278
Penalty Mins 57
Wins 20
GAA 2.77
Points 90
+ / - 30
Shots 306
Penalty Mins 62
Wins 32
GAA 2.15
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Injuries
Trevor van Riemsdyk (D)
Out indefinitely Personal - 21 / 03 / 23Evgeny Kuznetsov (C)
Ques Tues Upper Body - 19 / 03 / 23Darcy Kuemper (G)
Ques Thurs Upper Body - 18 / 03 / 23Nick Jensen (D)
Ques Tues Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23Sonny Milano (LW)
Ques Fri Illness - 13 / 03 / 23Martin Fehervary (D)
Ques Sat Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23Nick Jensen (D)
Ques Sat Upper Body - 02 / 03 / 23Evgeny Kuznetsov (C)
Ques Wed Illness - 28 / 02 / 23Marcus Johansson (LW)
Ques Wed Illness - 25 / 02 / 23Anthony Mantha (RW)
Ques Wed Upper Body - 21 / 02 / 23Evan Rodrigues (C)
Out indefinitely Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23Artturi Lehkonen (LW)
Late April Finger - 14 / 03 / 23Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Prob Mon Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Ques Sat Illness - 03 / 03 / 23Josh Manson (D)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23Kurtis MacDermid (D)
Ques Tues Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
Ques Wed Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23Pavel Francouz (G)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 13 / 02 / 23Erik Johnson (D)
Early April Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23Evan Rodrigues (C)
Ques Sat Face - 09 / 02 / 23Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Trevor van Riemsdyk (D) Out indefinitely Personal - 21 / 03 / 23 0-2 2-0 + - van Riemsdyk is away from the team for the birth of his child, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) Ques Tues Upper Body - 19 / 03 / 23 0-3 3-0 + - Kuznetsov was removed from the last game with an upper-body issue, leaving his availability for Tuesday's showdown with the Blue Jackets in question.
Darcy Kuemper (G) Ques Thurs Upper Body - 18 / 03 / 23 0-3 3-0 + - Kuemper has been held out of the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against the Blackhawks on Thursday.
Nick Jensen (D) Ques Tues Upper Body - 16 / 03 / 23 0-4 4-0 + - Jensen has missed the last two games due to an upper-body injury, leaving his status for Tuesday's battle with the Blue Jackets up in the air.
Sonny Milano (LW) Ques Fri Illness - 13 / 03 / 23 1-5 6-0 + - Milano was held out of the previous two games with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Blues on Friday.
Martin Fehervary (D) Ques Sat Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23 3-8 8-3 + - Fehervary has sat out the last three games due to a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be available for Saturday's tilt with the Islanders.
Nick Jensen (D) Ques Sat Upper Body - 02 / 03 / 23 3-8 8-3 + - Jensen has missed the previous three contests with an upper-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will lace up against the Islanders on Saturday.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) Ques Wed Illness - 28 / 02 / 23 3-8 8-3 + - Kuznetsov is nursing an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will hit the ice against the Ducks on Wednesday.
Marcus Johansson (LW) Ques Wed Illness - 25 / 02 / 23 4-9 9-4 + - Johansson has sat out the last two contests due to an illness, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Wednesday's matchup versus the Ducks.
Anthony Mantha (RW) Ques Wed Upper Body - 21 / 02 / 23 4-11 9-6 + - Mantha has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be confirmed if he will face off against the Ducks on Wednesday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Evan Rodrigues (C) Out indefinitely Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23 2-1 1-1-1 + - Rodrigues is going through the concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen when he will return to the lineup.
Artturi Lehkonen (LW) Late April Finger - 14 / 03 / 23 4-2 3-2-1 + - Lehkonen is idle after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger, and he is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Kurtis MacDermid (D) Prob Mon Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23 5-5 4-5-1 + - MacDermid has been out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will return against the Blackhawks on Monday.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW) Ques Sat Illness - 03 / 03 / 23 5-7 6-5-1 + - Nichushkin is ailing from an illness, and it is up in the air if he will dress for Saturday's battle against the Stars.
Josh Manson (D) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23 6-7 6-6-1 + - Manson is idle due to lower-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Kurtis MacDermid (D) Ques Tues Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23 8-7 6-7-2 + - MacDermid has been absent from the last four games while going through the league's concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen if he will be available Tuesday against the Sharks.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW) Ques Wed Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23 12-8 9-9-2 + - Nichushkin is battling an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will line up for Wednesday's matchup versus the Wild.
Pavel Francouz (G) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 13 / 02 / 23 12-8 9-9-2 + - Francouz is idle with a lower-body injury, and a timetable for recovery has yet to be established.
Erik Johnson (D) Early April Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23 12-9 9-10-2 + - Johnson has been designated to the injured reserve list with a broken ankle, and he will remain idle until at least the beginning of April.
Evan Rodrigues (C) Ques Sat Face - 09 / 02 / 23 13-9 9-11-2 + - Rodrigues was removed from the previous game due to a facial injury, and it is unknown if he will take part in Saturday's clash with the Panthers.