Colorado Avalanche vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, Preview, and Odds

The Colorado Avalanche face the Ottawa Senators with both teams heading in opposite directions to close out the season. The Avalanche have a 38-22-6 record and are in third place in the Central Division while the Senators have a 33-30-4 record and with three losses in a row have fallen to the bottom of the Atlantic Division and to sixth place in the wild card race. Both teams are looking to improve in their conferences and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.

Avalanche have stepped up on both ends of the ice

The Avalanche are having a great season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.23 goals per game. Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon have scored 72 goals and 87 assists to lead the top line but the entire offense has stepped up. J.T. Compher, Valeri Nichushkin, and Evan Rodrigues have combined for 40 goals and 69 assists while defenseman Cale Makar has added 15 goals and 40 assists from the point to open up the offense.

The offense has been great but the defense has stepped up as well, allowing only 2.80 goals per game. Makar and Toews have combined for 9.9 defensive point shares and 179 blocked shots while Samuel Girard and Josh Manson have combined for 4.0 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. The hope is that goaltender Jonas Johansson can step up as he is expected to start with the Avalanche playing the second game of a back-to-back but he has only faced seven shots all season.

Senators defense has let them down

The Senators are having a great season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.10 goals per game. Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Claude Giroux have scored 89 goals and 117 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has stepped up this year as well. Alex DeBrincat, Drake Batherson, and Shane Pinto have combined for 57 goals and 80 assists while defenseman Thomas Chabot has added nine goals and 27 assists from the point to help open up the offense.

The offense has been great but the defense has struggled, allowing 3.25 goals per game with 16 goals in the last three games. Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot have combined for 5.8 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. In addition, goaltender Mads Sogaard has struggled with a .888 save percentage and a 3.28 goals-against average on 268 shots.

Best Bets for this Game

Full-Game Side Bet

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The Avalanche are playing on short rest but I see them stepping up and controlling this game against a struggling Senators team that has lost three games in a row. The Avalanche should create plenty of scoring chances against the Senators, who allow 3.25 goals per game, with Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes near the net. The Avalanche, who allow only 2.80 goals per game, should limit the Senators' offense with Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Jonas Johansson to make plenty of big saves. The Avalanche should win the game with a strong performance on their home ice.

Take the Avalanche money line as road Favorites.

Prediction: Avalanche (-140)

Full-Game Total Pick

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Both teams have been playing great offense and I see both teams finding the back of the net throughout the game. The Senators, who average 3.10 goals per game, should pile on the goals with Brady Tkachuk, Claude Giroux, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement. The Avalanche, who average 3.23 goals per game, should run up the score against the Senators, who have allowed 16 goals in the last three games, with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the rush and creating open shots with effective puck movement while defenseman Cale Makar picks apart the Senators defense from the point. The Over should cover in a high-scoring game with both offenses stepping up.

Take the Over on 6.5 goals.

Prediction: Over 6.5

Mike Fink is a sports writer and a passionate football fan. After graduating from college, Fink picked up the passion he had since being a young child in following and covering all things sports and we are very excited to have him as a part of the StatSalt team. In recent weeks, Mike started a podcast which you can find on Spotify, called "The Mike and Grover Show" and it discusses all things football. He covers all forms of sports betting and also bets on all of the plays he gives out. Mike would advise hockey betting since the odds give you great payouts "Hockey is built to bet the Money Line Underdogs. Be sure and follow him on a daily basis.