Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Ducks vs Avalanche NHL Odds
Looking for Anaheim Ducks vs. Colorado Avalanche free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Ducks taking on the Avalanche on Thursday January 12th at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(26-8-5) Anaheim Ducks vs. Colorado Avalanche (26-9-5)
Date: Thursday January 12th
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Ducks -154
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds:
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
Live NHL Odds
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Ryan Getzlaf and his Anahiem Ducks will travel to Denver to face Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche.
The Ducks are currently in a tight battle for the division lead in the Pacific, while the Avs currently sit at the bottom of the Central Division.
A shake-up with the roster may be needed in Colorado, with a bevy of young talent up front but a blueline that is struggling to get them the puck or keep it out of their own net.
Anaheim Ducks
Ryan Getzlaf has long been the driving force behind the Anaheim offense, along with his steady scoring winger, Corey Perry. This season, however, Getzlaf has relinquished that title at the halfway point to the other Ryan up the middle.
Ryan Kesler leads the Ducks in points at the midway point of the year with 16 goals and 35 points in 43 games. Kesler was recently named as the team’s representative in the upcoming All-Star game in Los Angeles, ahead of the likes of the aforementioned Getzlaf and Perry.
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Rickard Rakell, had he been in the lineup for the full season, may have challenged Kesler for the nod, as the young Fin has tallied 16 goals of his own and 23 points in 32 games played this year.
On the backend, rumors have been swirling that a defender may be dealt for some additional firepower up front. The most common name has been Cam Fowler, who leads the Ducks defenseman with 22 points on the season.
The Ducks have a solid core on the backend with Fowler, Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, Kevin Bieska, Clayton Stoner, Josh Manson, Korbinian Holzer and Shea Theodore.
They have a glut of talent, with others such as Jacob Larsson and Simon Despres knocking on the door.
John Gibson is living up to expectations after being considered the top goaltending prospect in the league in the past few years.
Gibson, now the starter, owns a 16-10-7 record on the year with a .918 SV% and a 2.38 GAA.
Colorado Rockies
As mentioned, rumors have been swirling about a potential deal from the stable of young forwards for some much needed help on the blueline. It wouldn’t be the first time in recent memory a franchise made such a change, just look at the Edmonton Oilers.
Nathan MacKinnon is highly unlikely the one to go, though, as the former #1 pick currently leads the team in points with 27. He’s joined by Matt Duchene, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikhail Grigorenko and Jarome Iginla to round out the top-six.
Iginla may be on the move as well, as the 39-year old grizzled vet would be a nice depth piece for a contending team this season and could net a mid-round pick for the rebuilding Avs or a B-grade prospect.
Iginla has just 11 points, after a 22-goal and 47 point season a year ago.
The back-end needs works, as noted, but has a nice start to their top-four with Tyson Barrie and Erik Johnson. Barrie leads the Avs in ATOI at 23:34, and also their defensive scoring with 21 points while quarterbacking the powerplay.
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Their goaltending duo of Semyon Varlamov and Calvin Pickard both own a GAA over 3.00 this year, but some of that can be attributed to a team defense that sits 30th overall in the league, and a penalty kill that is 25th.
Pickard and Varlamov have each appeared in 21 games, seeing Pickard register a 3.06 GAA and .902 SV% and Varlamov own a 3.33 GAA and .901 SV% on the year.
NHL Betting Trends:
- The Avs rank dead last in both goals for and goals against this year
- is 8-6-3 on the road
- Anaheim is 8-8-6 on the road this year
- Anaheim has a total goal differential of +2 this season
- Colorado is 5-13-1 at home, the lowest win total of any team on home ice
- Colorado sits in 30th overall in the league and is currently the favorite for the #1 pick in the upcoming Draft
Free Anaheim Ducks vs Colorado Avalanche NHL Hockey Prediction:
While the Ducks are on the road, where they have been noticeably worse than when playing at home, Colorado has the worst record of any home team at 5-13-1.
The Ducks are the favorites, but the moneyline has priced in the fact that they’re on the road and I’ll take that in Denver anytime this year.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Ducks -154
NHL Free Score Prediction: Anaheim 3 – Colorado 1
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