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Columbus has scored 29 goals in 12 games. Colorado hung five on Chicago last night. And the market wants to call this close to a coin flip because the Avalanche are on a back-to-back with the backup in net? I get the logic. I’m not paying for it. A tired Colorado is still the best offense on tonight’s board, and the gap between these two teams is wider than one short night can close. Avs.
The Matchup
- Colorado can score in its sleep. Sixty-four goals in 15 games, three straight wins, and a 5-2 handling of the Blackhawks on Monday. Artturi Lehkonen has 12 goals. Nathan MacKinnon has 9 goals, 16 assists and 60 shots on net, the most of anyone on either roster.
- Columbus can’t. The Blue Jackets have won 5 of 12 and scored one or two goals in four of their last five. They lost 3-2 at Carolina and 3-1 at Dallas on the last trip. Nationwide Arena has been kinder, four wins in seven, but the cannon hasn’t had much to fire about lately. Kent Johnson leads them with 7 goals.
- Rest. This is the second night of a back-to-back for Colorado. Columbus has been off since Saturday.
- Puck drop. 7:00 PM ET at Nationwide Arena.
The Goalies
Scott Wedgewood is confirmed for Colorado, with Mackenzie Blackwood getting the night off after Chicago. Wedgewood has won 1 of his 4 starts and stopped 88.9% of the shots he’s faced. That’s the real worry here, and it’s priced in.
Cam Talbot is expected for Columbus. He’s won 3 of his 5 starts and stopped 89.4% of shots. Not confirmed yet.
The Number
Strip the margin out and the market makes Colorado about a 53% favorite. That’s the back-to-back discount, and it’s too steep. Our numbers, with these two goalies, have the Avalanche near 71%. It’s the biggest gap on tonight’s NHL board. There’s no news behind it, just a big ratings edge, so it stays a lean.
The honest case against: tired legs and a backup goalie, on the road, where Colorado has won only 3 of 7, against a team that’s had three days to rest. It’s a Lean, and win or lose, it lands on the receipts page.
Bottom Line
Take the Avalanche on the moneyline at . Lean. The best offense on the slate against a team that can’t buy a goal. Go Avs Go.
Lines as of Tuesday morning. Check Columbus’s goalie before puck drop.
Same-Game Parlay
One read in two legs. If Colorado wins this, it’s because MacKinnon and Makar are firing away, not Necas. Every leg needs the same game, so this is one position, not two bets.
The angleColorado wins with MacKinnon and Makar doing the shooting.
Build it at FanDuel →FanDuel prices same-game parlays in its own builder, so there is no price here. Build the legs there and check the number before you place it.
Price: check your sportsbook for SGP pricing. Confirm lines before you build the ticket. This parlay is a Game Pick. Player props not available in all states.
Best Prop for This Game
We stick to shots on goal for hockey props, and we start from the under. It has a trend, a matchup and a real price behind it. It’s a Game Pick prop, a separate bet from our pick, so keep it small.
Colorado’s shots run through MacKinnon and Makar, and Necas has cooled off.
- Trend2 shots or fewer in 10 of 15 games, and in 4 of his last 5
- Matchup2.1 shots a game, at about 16 to 20 minutes a night
Prices checked Tuesday morning. Prop prices move fast, so confirm them before you bet. Player props not available in all states.
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