This is a matchup of a pair of playoff teams and could very well be a first-round matchup, especially if the Predators stumble. The betting guide for this game will offer some insight as to which moneyline to lean towards, as well as thoughts on the over/under and a couple of player props.
Nashville Predators (+200) vs Colorado Avalanche (-250)
NSH: 44-29-7, 3.18 GF/GP, 3.01 GA/GP, L10: 3-4-3
COL: 56-18-6, 3.79 GF/GP, 2.80 GA/GP, L10: 6-4-0
Colorado looked to have a bit of its mojo back on Tuesday night, racking up five goals in a win over a sizzling St. Louis Blues team. They’re starting to get a bit healthier, and kicking their four-game losing streak has them breathing a sigh of relief. However, this season’s series with the Nashville Predators has been tight. The Preds have won two games, including one in overtime, and the teams have each scored 12 goals in the trio of contests.
The home-ice advantage is a big deal for Colorado, with the Avs sporting a sparkling 32-5-3 record at Ball Arena this season and a ridiculous 52-10 in their last 62 home games. The pick here is to stick with Colorado, as the home team has won four of the last five in the series. The moneyline for the Avs (-250) is a little steep, especially since they’ve won just one of their last five and are going against a playoff team. But the puck line (-1.5, +100) for Colorado isn’t bad.
The fewest total goals in any of the three games this season was seven, and the last meeting featured nine. Nashville has gone over 6.5 goals in five of its last six games, while Colorado has gone over in three of its last five at home. Stick with that trend (O6.5, +100), as this series has hit the over in four of the last five meetings.
Props
Cale Makar – Assists (Over 0.5, -115)
This game features two of the front-runners for the Norris Trophy in Cale Makar and Roman Josi. Both of them have done well in this series, but Makar looks to be a great bet to score at least a point in Thursday’s contest. Makar’s still racking up ridiculous minutes and has done well his whole career against Nashville, piling up two goals and eight assists in four games against the Preds.
In his two games against the Predators this season, Makar has racked up six points, including five assists. Makar hasn’t scored in the last two games, but now he’s going against a Predators team that loves to give up power-play chances. Nashville has allowed the fifth-most power-play goals this season, and Makar is in charge of the Avs power play. Getting his partner Devon Toews back in the lineup means more freedom at 5-on-5, too, and that means trouble for the opposition.
Matt Duchene – Anytime Goal Scorer (+180)
Matt Duchene spent the better part of nine seasons in Colorado before getting traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2017, and then signing with the Predators in 2019. He’s ninth on the Avalanche’s all-time goals list and has actually been pretty spectacular against his former team since leaving.
Duchene has eight goals in eight career games against the Avalanche, including three goals in two games against Colorado this season. The veteran forward also has been on a hot streak. Duchene boasts a six-game point streak and has scored goals in three of Nashville’s last four games. He has four goals and five assists during the point streak and has a good chance to keep that rolling against his former club.
Odds via Yahoo and BetMGM
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