After a tough 5-1 loss to Nashville, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks responded back with two-straight dominant victories at the expenses of Winnipeg and Vancouver. They’ll now try to continue their run when the Colorado Avalanche come to town this evening. Can the Blackhawks take care of business once again?
Read on below for a comprehensive breakdown of this Central Division clash. And if you’re craving for some NBA action as well, check out our preview of the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks Preview
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
When: Tuesday, December 15, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks– view all NHL lines
TV Broadcast: NBCS, CSCH
Betting on the Colorado Avalanche (14-16-1)
[sc:NHL240 ]The Colorado Avalanche have been getting it done lately, winning three of their previous four contests and are currently on a two-game winning streak. But despite these efforts, they still remain at the bottom of a competitive Central Division. The Avalanche will try to sustain their fine form when they pay the reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks a visit at the United Center.
Key to the Avs’ chances of victory will greatly depend on how they will manage to contain a Chicago team that’s averaging 3.60 GPG in its past five outings. Their net minder, Semyon Varlamov, who holds a 9-8-1 record with a 2.75 GAA and .909 SV%, will most probably have his work cut out for him especially in trying to stop the likes of the NHL’s leading scorer Patrick Kane and highly-touted rookie Artemi Panarin.
Fortunately, Varlamov should be able to provide a valiant stand as he’s been playing at an exceptionally high level in the past few games. That includes a 3-1 win over the Blues on Sunday night, during which the eight-year veteran stopped a season-best of 42 shots. Across five starts this month, Varlamov is 4-1-0 with a staggering 1.39 GAA.
As for the offense, the Avalanche will definitely have enough fire power to match the defending champions. They have the pair of Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog to lead their offense that’s averaging 2.74 GPG this season, the ninth-best in the league.
Duchene holds a team-high of 27 points (15 goals and 12 assists) and carries a respectable track record of 19 points (six goals and 13 assists) opposite Chicago. Landeskog, on the other hand, has tallied 22 points in total this season and 12 points (seven goals and five assists) through 17 career games in the same matchup.
Colorado is 4-1 SU and 0-5 OU in its last five road games.
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Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks (17-10-4)
Chicago’s four-game home stand is off to a very good start. The Blackhawks dominated their first two opponents—Winnipeg and Vancouver—and have yet to allow a single goal. They’ve now won four of their last five and will be looking to stretch their two-game run to three against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.
All eyes are going to be on Patrick Kane, the league’s scoring (46) leader. He enters this game with some serious momentum on his side as he’ll attempt to extend his point streak to 27 and hopefully come away with their 18th win of the season. But it’s worth noting that Kane’s failed to score a point in each of his previous two encounters with the Avalanche. Chicago also dropped both of those games.
That being said, the pressure is on Artemi Panarin and Brent Seabrook to take some of the offensive burden off Kane’s shoulders later. The two have already combined for 49 points (14 goals and 35 assists) thus far this season.
Meanwhile, goalie Corey Hansford, who owns a 4-0-0 record with a .50 GAA and .984 SV% across his last four starts, will need to keep playing at a very high level in this one since he’ll be up against a Colorado team that’s scored three goals in each of its past two contests. Hansford is only 4-8-2 with a 3.10 GAA and .880 SV% through 14 career games (13 starts) opposite the Avalanche, however.
Chicago is 7-3 SU and 3-5-2 OU in its previous 10 games at United Center.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago wins, 3-1. Create a betting account now and cash in on all the exciting NHL regular season action.
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