Ducks vs Avalanche Prediction NHL Picks Today 03/27

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Game Preview: Avalanche vs Ducks - NHL Picks and Predictions for March 27, 2023

The Anaheim Ducks will try to snap their losing streak as they host the Colorado Avalanche at home. NHL experts and computers alike will be making their picks for this matchup, with some leaning towards the heavily favored Avalanche. The Avalanche have been on a roll lately with eight wins in their last 10 games, thanks to the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. With a record of 43-23-6, the Avalanche are currently second in the Central Division and look to continue their success on the road, where they have a 23-11-1 record. Meanwhile, the Ducks have been struggling with just two wins in their last 10 games, putting them at 23-40-10 overall and seventh in the Pacific Division. Despite this, they have some standout players in Adam Henrique and Troy Terry, who will try to provide a spark for their team. NHL picks and parlays are calling for a potential blowout in favor of the Avalanche, but with injury concerns on both sides and the unpredictability of the NHL, anything can happen. NHL picks with spread will likely favor the Avalanche, but bettors may find some value in taking a chance on the underdog Ducks. The over/under is set at 6.5, and NHL picks odds are sure to fluctuate leading up to game time. As always, NHL picks experts and NHL picks computer systems will be analyzing every possible aspect of the game to provide the best NHL predictions for today's matchup. Will the Avalanche continue their dominance, or will the Ducks surprise everyone with an upset victory? Only time will tell, but this game is sure to have NHL today experts and fans alike on the edge of their seats.

Avalanche: Offense Analysis

The Avalanche offense is poised to dominate the struggling Ducks in this matchup. Led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who have been in top form over the last 10 games, Colorado has been averaging an impressive 3.7 goals per game. In contrast, the Ducks have struggled to score in their last four games, averaging just 2.8 goals per game, and their top scorer Adam Henrique is currently out due to a lower body injury. It’s clear that the Ducks simply can’t keep up with the firepower of the Avalanche offense. Furthermore, our NHL picks experts and computer predictions all favor the Avalanche to not only win this matchup, but also cover the spread. At -270, the Avalanche are heavy favorites, and for good reason. The Ducks have had an abysmal season, with a record of 23-40-10, and a weak 12-21-3 record at home. They also lead the league in penalties, which could give the Avalanche numerous opportunities to score on the power play. Overall, the Avalanche offense is looking to run up the score in this matchup, while the Ducks struggle to find the back of the net. Our best NHL bets today involve betting on the Avalanche to win and cover the spread, as well as potentially taking advantage of high-value parlays given their favorable odds.

Avalanche: Defensive Analysis

The Colorado Avalanche have been one of the most dominant teams in the NHL this season, and their defense has been a big reason why. They rank seventh in the league in goals against per game, allowing just 2.61 per game. Their defensive unit has been anchored by goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who has been one of the top netminders in the league this season. Grubauer has a .921 save percentage and a 2.11 goals against average, and he has been especially good on the road, where he has a 2.02 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. The Avalanche defense is also boosted by the play of Cale Makar, who has been one of the best young defensemen in the league this season. He has 44 points in just 46 games and provides a significant offensive upside from the blue line. The Avalanche penalty kill has been excellent this season, ranking fifth in the league at 84.8%. They have allowed just 26 power-play goals against this season, tied for the fifth-fewest in the league. Their success on the penalty kill is due to their ability to pressure the puck carrier and disrupt passing lanes. However, the Avalanche defense has been hit hard by injuries recently, with top defenseman Gabriel Landeskog out with a knee injury, and Josh Manson and Pavel Francouz also out with lower-body injuries. Their depth will be tested, and they will need other players to step up in their absence. In conclusion, the Avalanche defense has been outstanding this season, but injuries may hinder their success in the short term. To cover the spread against the Ducks, the Avalanche will need to continue to rely on their goaltending and penalty killing units while hoping their offense can put up enough goals to secure a victory.

Ducks: Offense Analysis

The Anaheim Ducks come into this matchup with the Colorado Avalanche on a four-game losing streak, and their offensive struggles have been a major contributing factor to their recent lack of success. With only 2.8 goals per game in their last 10 games, the Ducks have struggled to put the puck in the net, and this trend is likely to continue against a potent Avalanche defense. The lack of offensive production for the Ducks can be attributed to several factors. One major issue has been their inability to generate quality scoring chances, as they have averaged only 26 shots on goal per game in their last 10 games. This lack of offensive pressure has made it easier for opposing goalies to shut down their attack and limit their scoring opportunities. Another contributing factor to the Ducks' offensive struggles has been their inconsistent play in the faceoff circle. Anaheim ranks near the bottom of the league in faceoff percentage, winning only 47.6% of their draws. This lack of possession has made it difficult for the Ducks to sustain offensive pressure and generate scoring chances. Overall, the Ducks' offense has been underwhelming in recent weeks, and their struggles are unlikely to improve against a strong Avalanche defense. NHL picks experts and computer algorithms are heavily favoring the Avalanche in this matchup, and it's hard to see the Ducks having much success against a team with a +37 scoring differential. The best bet for NHL picks and parlay enthusiasts today would be to take the Avalanche with the spread to cover.

Ducks: Defensive Analysis

The Anaheim Ducks enter Monday's game against the Colorado Avalanche on a four-game losing streak, and their defense will need to step up if they hope to break that streak. The Ducks rank 29th in the league in goals against per game, allowing an average of 3.32 goals per game. Their penalty kill is also struggling, ranking 27th in the league with a success rate of only 76.9%. One bright spot for the Ducks has been their shot blocking. They rank third in the league with an average of 17.7 blocked shots per game, and their top shot blocker, Hampus Lindholm, ranks fourth in the league with 152 blocked shots. However, the Ducks will need more than just shot blocking to slow down the Avalanche's high-powered offense. The Avalanche rank second in the league in goals per game with an average of 3.45, and their top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen is one of the most dangerous in the league. The Ducks will need to focus on limiting the time and space that the Avalanche's top line has with the puck. This means playing a physical game, forcing turnovers, and taking away passing lanes. The Ducks will also need their goaltending to be on top of their game, as the Avalanche have the second-best shooting percentage in the league at 11.6%. Overall, the Ducks' defense will need to be at their best if they hope to slow down the Avalanche's potent offense and come away with a win. Based on NHL picks experts and computer analysis, the Ducks are unlikely to come out ahead, but their defensive efforts could determine the spread and give them a chance at a parlay bet.

Injury Report

The Anaheim Ducks will be without Adam Henrique (lower body), Urho Vaakanainen (hip), Jamie Drysdale (shoulder), John Moore (undisclosed), and Anthony Stolarz (lower body) for the matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. Artturi Lehkonen (finger), Josh Manson (lower body), Pavel Francouz (lower body), and Gabriel Landeskog (knee) will be out for the Avalanche. These injuries may have an impact on the game, particularly for the Ducks who will be missing key players. The Avalanche, on the other hand, has been able to continue their winning streak despite injuries to some of their top players. It will be important to monitor any updates on player injuries leading up to the matchup. However, based on the current injury report, the Avalanche may have the advantage in this game.

Prediction:

Ducks continue losing streak in matchup with Avalanche. Pick: Avalanche -1.5