Chicago Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver
When: Tuesday, January 17, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Chicago Blackhawks (-175) vs. Colorado Avalanche (+155); total: 5.5 – view all NHL lines
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Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks (-175)
Chicago was blown to bits by Washington, 6-0, on Friday, but there’s really no shame in losing to the Caps, especially with the way that team is playing of late. Then they lost the next one against Minnesota Sunday, 3-2, putting the Blackhawks in a mild funk.
The Caps and the Wild are two title contenders, though, and both teams are not on the same level of the one Chicago is facing later tonight in Colorado, which is wallowing in the bottom of the Central Division. In other words, the Blackhawks should be able to take care of the Avs, whom Chicago beat 4-0 back in Nov. 3. Corey Crawford earned first star honors in that game, stopping all of Colorado’s 38 shots, while Marian Hossa supplied two goals.
And while the Blackhawks scored just two goals in the past two games, they could find their scoring touch later tonight against Colorado’s defense that has been taking so much abuse this season, ranking 30th in the league with 3.3 goals allowed per game. Jonathan Toews, who only has a point (off an assist) in his last five outings, could see that an opportunity to get back on track. Toews hasn’t gotten off a shot against Minnesota and Washington.
The Blackhawks are 4-1 in their last five games at Pepsi Center.
Betting on the Colorado Avalanche (+155)
Let’s not sugarcoat things for the Avs and say that this team sucks right now. Colorado has gone 2-8 in the last 10 games. That stretch includes the Avs’ back-to-back losses to Anaheim (4-1) and Nashville (3-2), respectively, before taking on the visiting Blackhawks tonight.
That said, they’ve split the two meetings so far this season with Chicago. They lost the November meeting as mentioned earlier then won in overtime in Windy City, 2-1, on Dec. 23. The December win was largely attributed to the fantastic netminding of Calvin Pickard, who stopped all but one of the Blackhawks’ shots on goal.
With Semyon Varlamov eating dirt against Anaheim and Nashville, giving up six goals combined in those games, the Avs could turn to Pickard, who 1-2-0 with a 2.62 GAA and .918 SV% in three starts this January so far.
Despite their anemic season numbers on offense, the Avs were able to outshoot the Blackhawks in the two previous matchups, 72-60, though that’s skewed by their 38-21 advantage in the first meeting.
The under is 4-0-1 in the Avs’ last five games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago (-175) wins, 3-1.
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