Avalanche vs. Canucks Odds, Picks, Predictions: Look to the Under for Value
The Vancouver Canucks host the Colorado Avalanche on Friday with their playoff aspirations fading and head coach Bruce Boudreau's job security looking tenuous. Read on for ourbest Avalanche vs. Canucks pick basedon topodds.
With one regulationwin in their past 10 games, the Canucks are sinking in the Pacific Division standings.Rumors are rampant that Boudreau is about to be replaced byRick Tocchet as the season slips away from Vancouver.
The defending-championAvalanche have dealt with a litany of injuries for the majority of the season – and that has left themunexpectedly scrambling for a playoff spot at the midway point of the season. Colorado does appear to be trending positively, though, with three straight wins.
With expectationsthat they will be healthy eventually, the Avs remain one of the topcontenders for the Stanley Cup at the best sportsbooks despite languishing in the middle of the NHL pack.
Do the Canucks haveone last gasp in them for Friday’s matchup with Colorado?
Here is our best Avalanchevs. Canucks NHL pick (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook;pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Avalanche vs. Canucks Game Info
- Date: Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, 10 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN+, TVAS, SNP, ALT
- Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Avalanche vs. Canucks Odds
Avalanche vs. Canucks Odds Analysis
The FanDuel moneyline opened with a Coloradowin priced at -156 compared to Vancouver at +130. Even though 71% of the early consensuswagers were on the Avalanche, and there was some movement towardColorado, the ML has returned to the same as the openingprices.
The total opened at 6.5 with a decidedlean towards the Over, priced at -128, while the Under was +104. The price hasgradually moved further towards the Over, reaching -140, with the Under at +114at FanDuel. It appears that the sportsbooks are holding for as long as possibleand not moving the line to 7.
Avalanche vs. Canucks Pick
Avalanche-Canucks Under 6.5 (+115) ⭐⭐⭐
The Canucks have beena defensive trainwreck, with much of their struggles tied to aleague-worst .878 save percentage. But an AHL call-up is helping turn things around.
While CollinDelia is hardly a savior, he has been better than the injured ThatcherDemko and Spencer Martin. Delia has a .902 savepercentage and 3.06 goals against average in eight games and stopped 30 of 32 shots in a win over Colorado in his only NHL home start Jan. 5.
And for as talented asthey are, the Avalanche have had trouble scoring on the road this season. Their2.91 goals per 60 minutes away from Ball Arena ranks 22nd.
Colorado's star defenseman Cale Makar is also out for Friday's game, which takes one more playmaker out of the equation.
They also have agoaltender in Aleksandar Georgiev who has performed better on the road. Among 43 goaltendersthat have played at least 500 minutes on the road, Georgiev ranks fifth with 8.58Goals Saved Above Expected and seventh with a .922 save percentage.
If Delia continues to give theCanucks even a modest goaltending upgrade, this game has a great shot at hitting the Under at plus money.
Avalanche-Canucks Best Odds
BetMGM (+115)
With news that Cale Makar would not play Friday night prices shifted towards the Under.
Instead of the total of 6.5 coming in at virtually the same price (+115) across the top-rated sportsbooks, that has now moved to +100. FanDuel continues to skimp out by charging an extra two cents.
Since there is suchagreement on the price, it might be worth waiting to see if there is any playernews that could shift it further. If Spencer Martin plays in goal for Vancouverinstead of Delia, that would make the Over more appealing.
Avalanche-Canucks pickmade 1/20/2023 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
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