Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Blackhawks vs. Avalanche NHL Odds
Looking for Chicago Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Blackhawks taking on the Avalanche on Wednesday, October 13th at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Blackhawks Avalanche matchup.
(0-0) Chicago Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche (0-0)
Date: Wednesday, October 13th
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver CO
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Blackhawks +170 | Avalanche -200 (Bet Now!)
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Avalanche -1.5 (+115)
NHL Betting Total: 6
The Blackhawks and Avalanche kick off their 2021 NHL campaigns on Wednesday night at Ball Arena. Hopes are definitely high for Colorado, who at +450 are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks on the other hand have a bit more work to do at +4000.
The Blackhawks did make a big splash in the offseason by trading for reigning Vezina Trophy Marc-Andre Fleury as Vegas needed to clear some cap space. That and the return of captain Jonathan Toews could give Chicago some value here as +170 underdogs.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago finished 6th in the Central division last season and were not able to make a 2nd straight trip to the postseason. The loss of Toews’ leadership was noticeable as he missed the entire 2020/21 season with chronic immune response syndrome. Toews had 60 points in 70 games in 2020.
The ‘Hawks actually have some underrated firepower. Everybody knows Patrick Kane who was great again last year with 66 points in 56 games. Alex Debrincat is another point-per-game player with 56 in 52 games and Chicago is hoping for big things from Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach as they enter their 3rd NHL seasons.
One positive for the Blackhawks offense is that Colorado no longer has Philipp Grubauer in net. The goaltender finished 3rd in Vezina Trophy voting last year but couldn’t agree with the team on contract terms and ended up signing with the Seattle Kraken in the offseason.
Colorado looks for stability in net but Chicago hopes they’ve found it themselves with the addition of Fleury. He’s getting long in the tooth at 36 years old, but is still playing well with a 1.98 GAA last year and 6 SOs in 36 games. Fleury will be tested early against this Colorado offense.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is getting to the point where any season that doesn’t end with them hoisting the Stanley Cup is considered a disappointment. That was true last year as the Avalanche won the President’s Trophy with 82 points but were knocked out by Vegas in the 2nd round of the playoffs in six games.
The Avalanche had the #1 scoring offense in the NHL last season netting 3.5 goals/game. The Blackhawks gave up the most SOG in the league last season and Colorado took the 2nd most so Fleury is going to get pelted in his first game with Chicago.
Colorado has the best top line in hockey with Nathan Mackinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen all scoring 50+ points last season. Perennial MVP candidate Mackinnon will miss the season opener due to COVID 19 protocols however.
The Avs also have some concerns in net as new starter Darcy Kuemper missed 19 games with a lower body injury last season when he was with Arizona. Pavel Francouz is the backup and he missed the entire year following hip surgery.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Blackhawks are 4-9 last 13 road games
- Blackhawks are 1-4 last 5 vs. Western Conference
- Blackhawks are 6-20 last 26 as road underdog
- OVER is 7-1 in Blackhawks last 8 overall
- Avalanche are 41-15 last 56 as a favorite
- Avalanche are 38-15 last 53 home games
- OVER is 9-1 in Avalanche last 10 vs. Western Conference
- Avalanche are 5-2 last 7 head to head meetings
Free Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks NHL Prediction:
Chicago looks like a solid play on Wednesday night considering Colorado has some concerns in net and the fact that Mackinnon is in COVID protocols. The Blackhawks welcome Toews back in the lineup, and have the scoring threats in Kane and Debrincat to put the pressure on Kuemper.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Blackhawks +1.5 (-135)
Chicago is a +170 play on the moneyline as well but -135 isn’t bad value in this spot.
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