Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions
The Anaheim Ducks (9-6-0) meet the Colorado Avalanche (9-5-0) on Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Ducks vs. Avalancheodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Ducks picked up a 3-2 victory on the road Tuesday in Nashville, as Adam Henrique tipped home a shot from the point with less than 4 minutes left in regulation to grab the win. Anaheim has won back-to-back games by a combined score of 7-3.
Anaheim hasn't played a back-to-back since Oct. 22, when it fell at home by a 3-1 score against the Boston Bruins. It is just 5-16 in 21 games when playing on no rest.
The Avalanche posted a 5-1 road win against the Seattle Kraken on Monday behind G Alexandar Georgiev, pushing on the total at most shops. The Over is 4-0-1 in the past 5 outings for the Avs.
Colorado has cashed in 44 of the past 64 tries against the Pacific Division, while winning 9 of the past 10 against Anaheim, and 4 of the past 5 games at home against the Ducks. The Over is 5-0-1 in the past 6 meetings in Denver.
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Ducks at Avalanche odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:51 a.m. ET.
Ducks at Avalanche projected goalies
Lukas Dostal (5-2-0, 3.15 GAA, .910 SV%) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (8-4-0, 3.10 GAA, .890 SV%)
Dostal gets the nod in the crease after John Gibson picked up the road win in the Music City. The backup has been on fire for Anaheim this season, but Dostal has a tall order facing the Avs with a tired defense in front of him.
Georgiev turned aside 18 of the 19 shots he faced in Monday's win in Seattle, easily his best start since a shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 19.
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Ducks at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 4, Ducks 2
The Avalanche (-280) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk, especially with the erratic nature of Colorado's scoring this season. The Avs have scored 4 or more goals in 3 of the past 6 games, but they have also been shut out 3 times in the past 8 outings since Oct. 26. They're hard to trust.
PASS.
I'll roll the dice on the AVALANCHE -1.5 (-114), as they're coming off a 5-1 win as a favorite in Seattle, easily covering the puck line. Colorado has covered the puck line in 3 of the past 6 games, although the 3 times it failed to cover, it also lost outright.
Take the Avs, but go lightly, as there is risk. The good news is that Colorado catches Anaheim playing on no rest, having arrived on its charter flight from Nashville at 2:26 a.m. ET.
UNDER 6.5 (-112) is the lean, but be careful.
The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 games overall for the Ducks. Colorado has hit the Under at a 9-4-1 clip in the past 14 games against Pacific Division teams, although the Over is 4-0-1 in the past 5 games overall for the Avs. Still, the Ducks should have tired legs, struggling to get it done on offense.
