Capital One Arena will play host to an East-West matchup as the Colorado Avalanche pay a visit to the U.S. capital to meet the Washington Capitals. It’s the final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The game will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12 and it can be viewed live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals Odds
Earning 4.0 units for moneyline bettors, Washington is 18-13 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 55-27 record that the team posted during the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 31 regular season outings, 17 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 12-5 SU at home.
The Capitals have converted on 20.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Capitals have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over their last ten outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Braden Holtby (16-7) has been the best option in goal for the Caps this year. Holtby did just play last night, however, so Washington might decide to give him a rest and turn to Philipp Grubauer instead (2-9-9 record, .899 save percentage, 3.01 goals against average).
The Caps will continue to look for leadership from Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovechkin (33 points) has tallied 21 goals and 12 assists and has recorded two or more points on seven separate occasions this year. Kuznetsov has 10 goals and 21 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 19 games.
Over on the other bench, Colorado is 14-15 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. A total of 18 of its contests have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and none have pushed. As the road team so far, the Avalanche are 6-9 SU.
The Avalanche have converted on 18.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s players have been penalized 4.5 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (3.14 goals against average and .905 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 29.2 saves per game and owns a 9-9-1 record.
Nathan MacKinnon (11 goals, 22 assists) has been one of the primary playmaking threats for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Washington Capitals Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 2-0 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in four of Washington’s last five outings.
Over Washington’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-3 in those games).
