Canadiens vs Avalanche Prediction, March 13, 2023

Odds

2021-2022 season stats

Preview

The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Montreal Canadiens in an NHL game on Monday, March 13th, 2023, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Avalanche are coming off an overtime victory against the Arizona Coyotes, while the Canadiens have been struggling with a 3-5-2 record in their last ten games. In this article, we will preview both teams, analyzing their performances, strengths, and weaknesses. Additionally, we will provide a final prediction for the game.

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have had a season to forget in the NHL. With a record of 26-34-6, they currently rank eighth in the Atlantic Division and have been struggling with consistency. In their last ten games, they have a 3-5-2 record, averaging just 2.9 goals and 4.6 assists per game. They have also been conceding goals at an alarming rate, with an average of 2.8 goals per game in the same period.

Despite their struggles, the Canadiens have some talented players in their roster. Josh Anderson has been the standout performer for the team this season, with 19 goals and eight assists to his name. He has been a consistent threat to opposition defenses and has been one of the few players to perform well for the Canadiens this season.

Nicholas Suzuki has also been performing well recently, with four goals and three assists in his last ten games. He has shown glimpses of his talent and has the potential to be a top player for the Canadiens in the future.

However, the Canadiens' defense has been a major concern this season. They have been conceding an average of 3.5 goals per game, which ranks 27th in the NHL. They have been struggling to keep opposition offenses at bay, and this has been one of the main reasons for their poor form this season.

Their penalty killing has been average, ranking 17th in the NHL with a success rate of 81.0%. While this is not a terrible record, their penalty taking could be a potential area of concern against the Avalanche. The Canadiens rank sixth in NHL play with 282 total penalties, averaging 4.3 penalties per game. Against a team with the offensive firepower of the Avalanche, the Canadiens will need to improve their discipline and avoid giving away too many power-play opportunities.

Injuries have also been a major issue for the Canadiens this season. They have several key players out of action, including Christian Dvorak, Sean Monahan, Brendan Gallagher, Carey Price, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, Arber Xhekaj, Paul Byron, Justin Barron, Cole Caufield, Joel Armia, Jordan Harris, and Jake Evans. The absence of these players has been a major blow to the Canadiens and has affected their performance on the ice.

In conclusion, the Montreal Canadiens have had a disappointing season in the NHL. They have been struggling with consistency and have been plagued by injuries to key players. Their offense has been decent, with Josh Anderson and Nicholas Suzuki showing glimpses of their talent. However, their defense has been a major concern, conceding an average of 3.5 goals per game. Their penalty taking could also be a potential weakness against the Avalanche, who have a potent offense.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NHL this season. With a record of 36-22-6, they have been in contention for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Central Division. They are currently sitting in third place, just two points behind the second-placed Minnesota Wild.

The Avalanche have been in excellent form recently, with a 6-3-1 record in their last ten games. They have been scoring goals for fun, averaging 3.9 goals and 6.6 assists per game in the same period. This has been largely due to the exceptional performances of their star players, Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon.

Rantanen has been one of the top scorers in the NHL this season, with 42 goals and 34 assists to his name. He has been a consistent threat to opposition defenses and has formed a potent partnership with MacKinnon. The latter has scored ten goals and provided five assists in his last ten games, showcasing his talent and importance to the Avalanche's offense.

However, the Avalanche's success this season has not just been down to their offense. Their defense has been rock solid too, conceding only 2.8 goals per game in their last ten games. Cale Makar has been a standout performer in this regard, with 12 goals and 37 assists this season, making him one of the most productive defensemen in the league.

While the Avalanche have been dominant offensively and defensively, they have struggled with their penalty killing. Their penalty kill success rate ranks 22nd in the NHL, with a success rate of 78.8%. This could be a cause for concern for the Avalanche, as the Canadiens rank sixth in NHL play with 282 total penalties, averaging 4.3 penalties per game.

If the Avalanche want to win this game and cover the -1.5 puck line, they will need to improve their penalty killing. They cannot afford to give away too many power-play opportunities to the Canadiens, who have some potent offensive players of their own.

Another concern for the Avalanche is the absence of some key players due to injuries. Gabriel Landeskog, who has been one of the team's best players this season, is out with a knee injury. Josh Manson, Pavel Francouz, and Erik Johnson are also out with lower body injuries, while Kurtis MacDermid is day-to-day with a lower body injury. These injuries could have an impact on the Avalanche's performance, but they have shown that they have the depth to cope with such situations.

Despite these concerns, the Avalanche are a talented team with a lot of potential. They have been playing with confidence and have the ability to beat any team in the league on their day. If they can improve their penalty killing and capitalize on their offensive strengths, they have a good chance of winning this game and covering the -1.5 puck line.

In conclusion, the Colorado Avalanche are a team to watch out for in the NHL this season. They have been exceptional offensively and defensively, but their penalty killing needs improvement. With the absence of some key players due to injuries, they will need to rely on their depth to win this game against the Canadiens. If they can play to their potential, they have a good chance of coming away with a victory.

BETTING TRENDS

Colorado are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games.

Colorado are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against Montreal.

Colorado are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games on the road.

Colorado are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.

Montreal are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Montreal's last 7 games against Colorado.

Montreal are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 5 games against an opponent in the Western Conference conference.

Prediction

Given the current form and strengths of both teams, we predict that the Colorado Avalanche will win and cover the -1.5 puck line. The Avalanche's offense has been exceptional, with Rantanen and MacKinnon leading the way, while their defense has been solid, conceding only 2.8 goals per game in their last ten games.

The Canadiens, on the other hand, have been struggling in both offense and defense, with their penalty taking being a potential weakness against the Avalanche's potent offense. Additionally, the Avalanche won the previous matchup between these teams 2-1 in overtime, which could give them an added advantage.

Additionally, the Avalanche have a good record on the road this season, with an 18-11-1 record away from home. They have also won 16 of the 26 games in which their opponents committed more penalties than them, indicating that they can take advantage of the Canadiens' penalty taking. Expect the Avalanche to win this game and cover the -1.5 puck line.

PICK: Avalanche -1.5 (-110) 

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