Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche
Opening Moneyline: Avalanche -135 / Predators +115 O/U 5.5 goals
Time: 9 PM EST Friday January 22, 2010
This is a match up of two teams that are in the heart of the playoff race, but are heading in different directions as of late. Colorado has won 4 games in a row, is a solid 7-3 in their last 10 games, and is tied with the Vancouver Canucks atop the Northwest Division. Nashville has lost 2 in a row, is still 6-4 in their last 10 games, and is in 2nd place in the Central Division 7 points back of the Chicago Blackhawks.
This season Colorado is 13-6-2 at home and Nashville is 15-8-2 on the road.
In their last games Nashville lost to the Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 last night while Colorado laid a beat down on the Edmonton Oilers beating them 6-0 on Monday night.
Tonight will be the 3rd meeting of these 2 teams and the Predators have won both games.
One of the main reasons that the Avalanche are on fire is the play of G Craig Anderson (41-24 2.56 GAA save percentage 92.1%). In Colorado's 4 game winning streak he has a GAA of only 1.44. He will be facing a Predators offense that is decent, as they rank 13th in the league in scoring (2.76 goals per game). Anderson was in goal for both of Colorado's losses to Nashville this season.
The Avalanche play great team hockey on offense, as even though they do not have one player that ranks in the top 20 in the league in either goals scored or points Colorado ranks 8th in scoring averaging 2.90 goals per game.
Nashville G Pekka Rinne (32-18 2.83 GAA save percentage 90.4%) will probably be in the net tonight for the Predators and he will have to play well tonight for Nashville to avoid a 3 game losing streak.
The home ice advantage may not be that big tonight, as the Avalanche have more wins on the road than at home and conversely the Predators have more wins on the road than at home.
Colorado is 4-0 in their last 4 games against teams with a winning record, has gone Under is 5 of their last 7 games, and has gone Under in 16 of their last 23 games against teams with a winning record. Nashville is 5-1 in their last 6 games on the road, 2-5 in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record, and has gone Over in 7 of their last 10 games on the road.
Our Selection : Colorado has been resting at home since their 6-0 win over Edmonton, they have won 4 in a row. Nashville lost to Toronto on Monday 4-3 after falling behind 3-0 early, they had just returned from a 3-0 road trip in western Canada. One game at home and back on the road in Phoenix last night where they lost 4-2, 2nd night in back to back games and they now run into a well rested Colorado team that is getting good goaltending and playing solid defensive hockey.
Take Colorado -.5 in 60 mins
Future Betting Odds
NHL Handicapping
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers 4-11
Well, today's game in the City of Brotherly love is for all the marbles, as the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Rangers. Both of these teams are tied for the 8th and last playoff spot in the East, so the winner of this game will make the playoffs while the loser will be watching them from home.