Matching up for the third and final time this season, the Arizona Coyotes and the Colorado Avalanche take the ice at the Pepsi Center for a Western Conference showdown. The action will get started at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10, and it is being televised live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Arizona Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche Odds
Colorado is 35-32 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. That early-season winning percentage is a remarkable improvement over the 22-60 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of its 67 games this season, 36 have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team is 23-10 SU at home this season.
The Avalanche have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
The Avalanche, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over their last five games total, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Semyon Varlamov (19-22-6) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Avs this year. If head coach Jared Bednar decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Jonathan Bernier (17-13-13 record, .914 save percentage, 2.82 goals against average).
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen will each be focal points for the Avalanche. MacKinnon (79 points) has tallied 32 goals and 47 assists and has recorded two or more points 22 times this year. Rantanen has 22 goals and 44 assists to his name and has notched a point in 40 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Arizona is 21-45 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 66 regular season matches, 35 of its games have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team, the Coyotes are 9-23 SU.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 18th overall and it’s successfully defended 79.5 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been whistled for penalties only 3.2 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their last five games total, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (2.43 goals against average and .924 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona. Raanta is averaging 26.8 saves per game and owns a 16-23-6 record.
Clayton Keller (18 goals, 30 assists) has been one of the top offensive playmakers for the visiting Coyotes.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Arizona (1-5 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. Colorado has only participated in a couple of shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
Colorado has averaged 2.7 goals per game, while allowing 3.7, on its three-game losing streak.
71.4 percent of Colorado’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 25-19 overall in such games) while only 38.1 percent of Arizona’s wins have come by two goals or more (8-26 overall in games decided by at least two goals).
Arizona skaters have given out the fifth-most hits in the league (24.5 per game).
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