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Friday night at Ball Arena, and the moneyline on the Avs is too rich for my blood. So I’m going the other way: Colorado on the puck line at even money. The Avs score in bunches, 31 goals in seven games, and the Pens have been leaking.
The Matchup
- Colorado can fill the net. The Avalanche are 4-2-1 with 31 goals, more than four a night, and they’ve outshot opponents 214 to 176. They hung seven on Calgary last week.
- Pittsburgh’s been loose. The Penguins are 3-3-1 and gave up five in two of their last three: 5-3 in Washington and 5-3 in Chicago on Tuesday. They’re getting outshot about as often as they outshoot people.
- Puck drop. 9:10 PM ET in Denver.
The Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood is confirmed for Colorado after Scott Wedgewood started Wednesday. Blackwood is at 87.9% through five games, which is the one thing I don’t love here.
Pittsburgh has been alternating Sergei Murashov and Arturs Silovs. Murashov went Tuesday, and Arturs Silovs (88.5% in four games) is confirmed.
The Number
With the margin out, the market makes Colorado about a two-in-three favorite to win. Even money on the puck line asks the Avs to win by two, which is a fair ask for a team scoring like this at home against a defense that’s given up five twice in a week.
The honest case against: the puck line loses on every one-goal game, and Colorado’s goalie hasn’t been sharp. It’s a Game Pick, a lean, and like every pick we post, it lands on the receipts page win or lose.
Bottom Line
Take the Avalanche minus one and a half at . Lean. Best offense on the ice tonight, at home, and an even-money price to win by two. Avs.
Lines as posted Friday afternoon. Both goalies confirmed Friday evening.
Same-Game Parlay
One read in two legs. If Colorado wins by two, Nathan MacKinnon is probably in the middle of it. He’s scored five goals in seven games and he’s put eight shots on net twice. Every leg needs the same night, so this is one position, not two bets.
The angleMacKinnon gets one and the Avs pull away from a leaky Pittsburgh defense.
Build it at Fanatics →Fanatics 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. Lines as posted Friday at 1:00 AM ET; confirm them before you build the ticket. This parlay is a Game Pick. Player props not available in all states.
Best Props for This Game
Bets beyond the side, from either team. Every one has a trend, a matchup and a real price behind it. These are Game Pick props, separate bets from our pick, so keep them small.
He’s the most dangerous shooter on the ice, and he’s facing a team that’s given up five goals twice in its last three games.
- TrendGoals in 3 of 7 games, 5 goals and 29 shots on goal
- MatchupPittsburgh has allowed 22 goals in seven games, and its confirmed goalie is at 88.5%
Sid just scored twice in Chicago, and Colorado’s goalie has had a rough start.
- Trend2 goals Tuesday at Chicago, 18 shots on goal in seven games
- MatchupMackenzie Blackwood, confirmed for Colorado, is at 87.9% through five games
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