Vancouver Canucks Vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds, Picks, and Predictions (3/23/22)

The Vancouver Canucks lost at home in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.  J.T. Miller scored his 25^thgoal of the season and added an assist while Thatcher Demko made 26 saves for the Canucks in the loss. Vancouver is 30-26-8 with 68 points, fifth in the Pacific Division.  The Canucks have lost three straight contests and five of its past six games (1-3-2).  The Colorado Avalanche beat the Edmonton Oilers at home, 3-2 in overtime on Monday.  Nathan MacKinnon scored 52 seconds into the extra session for the victory.  Mikko Rantanen scored two power play goals in the contest while Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves in the win.  The Avalanche is 45-13-2 with 95 points, first in the Central Division.

Vancouver Canucks Vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Odds

Vancouver is 4-0 in their last four games playing on two days’ rest.  Over is 5-1 in the Canucks last six contests vs. a team with a winning record.  Over is 7-0 in Vancouver’s last seven games vs. Western Conference opponents.  The Canucks are 1-4 in their last five meetings with the Avalanche.  Colorado is 45-8 in their last 53 home games.  The Avalanche are 51-11 in their last 62 games vs. a team with a losing record.  Over is 7-1 in Colorado’s last eight contests vs. a team with a losing record.  Over is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings between the Canucks and Avalanche.  Colorado is the favorite to win the 2021-22 Stanley Cup at +425. 

Vancouver Canucks Odds

J.T. Miller leads Vancouver in scoring with 75 points (25 goals and 50 assists).  He was a trade target for a lot of teams, but the Canucks decided not to move him at this time.  Miller has scored 31 points on the power play (six goals and 25 assists) and leads the club with five game winning goals.  He’s a +8 while averaging 20:54 of ice time per contest.  Elias Petterson has 43 points in 62 games (18 goals and 25 assists).  The center has 18 points on the power play in 2021-22 (seven goals and 11 assists).  Petterson has won 56.4% of his face offs this year.  Bo Harvat is second on the club in goals with 23, overall, he has 41 points this campaign.  Horvat has 15 points on the power this season (10 goals and five assists).  The center has scored three game winning goals and averaging 19:49 of ice time per game this year.  Brock Boeser has scored 36 points in 58 games in 2021-22 (18 goals and 18 assists).  The winger has tallied 10 power play goals and four game winning goals on the season.

Quinn Hughes is the second leading scorer for the Canucks with 51 points (five goals and 46 assists).  The 22-year-old has 25 assists on the power play and ranks second on the team in plus/minus at +11.  Hughes has blocked 45 shots and leads the team in ice time per game at 25:09.  Oliver Ekman-Larsson has delivered 81 hits and blocked 58 shots this season.  He has 17 points while skating 22:19 per game for Vancouver.  Tyler Myers leads the Canucks in blocked shots with 125 and ranks third on the club in hits with 120.  He has 15 points and averaging 22:14 of ice time per game.  Luke Schenn leads the team in hits with 199 and ranks third on the club in blocked shots with 70.

Thatcher Demko has started 50 games between the pipes for the Canucks this campaign.  On the season he’s 27-19-4 with a .916 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA. 

Colorado Avalanche Odds

Nazem Kadri is tied for the team lead in scoring with 75 points (23 goals and 52 assists).  He’s averaging 19:17 of ice time per game and is a +17 on the season.  Kadri leads the Avalanche in game winning goals with six in 2021-22 and has tallied seven power play goals on the campaign.  With an assist in Monday’s game against the Oilers, Kadri now has 500 career points (214 goals and 286 assists).  Mikko Rantanen is tied with Kadri for the team lead in scoring with 75 points (31 goals and 44 assists).  On the power play the seventh-year winger has an impressive 29 points (14 goals and 15 assists).  He’s third on the team in plus/minus at +34 and averaging 20:58 of ice time per game.  Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche captain is second on the team in goals with 30.  He’s out indefinitely due to a knee injury; his leadership will be missed by the Avalanche.  Nathan MacKinnon has 68 points in 48 games in 2021-22; additionally, he has 23 points on the power play (six goals and 17 assists).  On the season, MacKinnon is a +17 while averaging 21:02 of ice time per contest.  Andre Burakovsky has scored 46 points on the season (18 goals and 28 assists).  He’s scored four game winning goals and four power play goals in 2021-22.

Cale Makar is arguably the best defensemen in the NHL.  He’s the favorite to win the Norris Trophy at -300 and listed at +3000 to win the Hart Trophy.  In his third season, he leads all NHL defensemen with 22 goals and second in points by a defenseman with 71.  In the win on Monday over Edmonton, Makar had two assists in the game.  He’s blocked 78 shots and has delivered 73 hits in 2021-22.  He’s tied for second on the team in game winning goals with five and second on the Avalanche in plus/minus at +39.  Devon Toews has 46 points this year (12 goals and 34 assists).  In his second season with Colorado, he leads the NHL in plus/minus at +47.  Samuel Girard is third on the team in blocked shots with 77.  He has 27 points in 56 games this season (five goals and 22 assists).  Girard is out for at least the next four weeks due to a lower body injury.  Veteran Erik Johnson has played in 63 games in 2021-22.  He leads the Avalanche in blocked shots with 105 and hits with 134.  Offensively, he’s chipped in 17 points (six goals and 11 assists) on the year.   

Darcy Kuemper has started 44 games for the Avalanche this year.  He’s 30-8-2 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.40 GAA.  Kuemper, in first season with Colorado is +10000 to win the Vezina Trophy.  

Vancouver Canucks Vs. Colorado Avalanche Picks & Prediction

Vancouver is scoring 2.8 goals per game, ranking them 21^st in the NHL and attempting 32.4 shots per game, 13^th overall. Vancouver has four skaters that have scored at least 18 goals this year.  On the defensive side, the Canucks are allowing 2.9 goals per game which is 14^th in the NHL and yielding 31.8 shots a game, 19^thoverall.  The Avalanche are scoring 3.8 goals per game, second in the league and taking 34.9 shots per game, fifth overall.  The home team has seven players on their roster with at least 44 points and four skaters that have scored at least 60 points.  Defensively Colorado is allowing 2.8 goals per game, ranked seventh overall and 31.4 shots per game, 14^th in the league.  The Avalanche are the best team in hockey, and they will get their 26^th home victory of the season beating the Canucks by more than 1.5 goals.