The Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche have something in common more than fighting each other for the better divisional ranking in the NHL standings: they both had European adventures as a part of their 2022-23 NHL schedule.
Moreover, the Predators and Avalanche each won two games in Europe: Nashville defeated the San Jose Sharks, while Colorado took both games in Finland against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
With the Colorado Avalanche back in Denver, we’ll preview their matchup and find the best Predators vs. Avalanche betting option.
Puck drop is set for shortly after 9 P.M. ET, and you can watch this Central division matchup on NHLPP and ESPN+.
Last Game Records
Thursdanightme is the first of four head-to-head matchups on the NHL schedule between the Predators and Avalanche.
In the 2021-2022 season, the Nashville Predators were one of the few NHL teams to get the better of the eventual Stanley Cup Champions.
The Predators went 3-1 against the Avalanche in 2021-2022, although two of those wins were in overtime. Both teams averaged 3.00 goals per game across the four matchups.
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Analysis
Nashville Predators
As mentioned earlier, the Nashville Predators started the season with two wins over the San Jose Sharks in Prague, Czechia.
However, the Predators struggled after returning from Europe and losing their next five games. The Predators hope the Avalanche suffer the same trans-Atlantic travel struggles as they did.
Nashville’s Struggles
The Avalanches’ recent travel and San Jose and Nashville’s struggles returning from Europe must be considered when making any Predators vs Avalanche betting picks.
The Nashville Predators arrive in Denver with a 5-7-1 record. Nashville has won two of their last five games, defeating the struggling Vancouver Canucks and injury-laden Calgary Flames.
In their previous game, the Nashville Predators lost 5-1 to the Seattle Kraken, who has had a surprisingly good start to the 2022-23 season.
There’s never really much good news to report from a 5-1 loss, and aside from Filip Forsberg scoring, Nashville’s goaltending rotation is in disarray.
Jusse Soros Performance
Jusse Soros should be the Predators starting goalie if their goaltending rotation pattern holds. However, Soros gave up four goals on six shots against the Kraken and was replaced by backup Kevin Lankinen, who made thirteen saves in relief of Soros.
If Soros does start, he has a 3-6-1 record, with a .892 save percentage and a 3.46 save percentage.
If Lankinen gets the start, we will do more research into the quality of his starts because Lankinen’s numbers are pretty impressive: a 2-1-0 record, with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.
Colorado Avalanche
Let’s begin with the biggest story for the Colorado Avalanche coming into this matchup: the NHL injury report.
Everything to do with Colorado, be it Avalanche stats, betting odds, or the powerplay, will be dramatically affected by the three new additions joining Captain Gabriel Landeskog on the injured list.
Valeri Nichushkin has been excellent on the power play and is listed on the injured reserve, while two of Colorado’s top-six defensemen are out as Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard have been added to the NHL injury report.
The Colorado Avalanche enter Thursday’s matchup with a 6-4-1 record. The Avs have won two in a row and three of their last five games.
MacKinnon at the NHL Player Stats
Nathan MacKinnon will be among the NHL player stats leaders at the end of the season and currently leads the Avs with nineteen points (three goals, sixteen assists).
In their previous game, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon both had three assists, while Arturri Lehkonen and Alex Newhook were among the goal scorers for the Avs. Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves for the win.
We don’t know who the Avs will start against the Predators. If Georgiev gets the start, he has a 6-1-1 record, with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
We expected backup Pavel Francouz to get a start in Finland, but he didn’t. With the Carolina Hurricanes up next for the Avalanche, we think Francouz gets the start against the Predators.
Francouz has a 0-3-0 record, with a 3.08 goals against average and a .898 save percentage.
NHL Updates
We always consult NHL teams’ stats and specialty teams before making any wagers, and this Predators vs Avalanche betting preview is no different.
Predators’ Power Play
The Predators are averaging 2.62 goals per game and 3.39 goals against per game. The Avs league-best powerplay will test Nashville’s penalty killers’ 83% efficiency.
In comparison, the powerplay will have chances to improve on their 14.3% powerplay conversion rate against Colorado’s struggling penalty killers.
Important for any Predators vs Avalanche betting predictions or picks are team stats and special teams.
The Colorado Avalanche are averaging 3.55 goals per game and 2.82 goals per game; the latter stat is primarily thanks to Georgiev.
Avs’ Power Play
The Avs’ penalty kill remains among the worst in the league, giving up twelve powerplay goals and operating at 70.7%, while the Avs’ powerplay is the best in the NHL, having scored twelve goals and converting on 38.2% of their powerplay opportunities.
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
Moneyline
The Colorado Avalanche are the moneyline favorite, with odds between -180 and -200, while the Nashville Predators are the moneyline underdog, ranging from +155 and +165. The Predators have a 5-8 record on the moneyline, while the Avs are 6-5.
Puck Line Spread
The Colorado Avalanche are the puck line spread underdog (-1.5), with odds ranging from +115 to +135 on online sportsbooks.
The Nashville Predators are the puck line spread favorite (+1.5), with odds from -148 and -155.
The Avalanche have a 5-6 record against the spread, while the Predators have a 4-9 record against the spread so far in the 2022-23 season.
Total Goals Line
The total goals line is set to 6.5. The over is listed with odds listed between -110 to -120, while the under has odds listed between +100 and -110.
The Avs have a 6-5 over/under record, while the Predators are 6-7.
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Prediction
If the Colorado Avalanche were remotely healthy, our Predators vs Avalanche betting picks would be very different.
The same could be said if this were any other game between the Predators and Avalanche. But it’s not.
The Avalanche are stacking wins and powerplay goals almost as quickly as they are stacking injured players, who were critical to their Stanley Cup success.
Who to Bet On?
This is also the first game back from a road trip to Europe, and teams have traditionally struggled when returning from games outside of North America.
As for out NHL game prediction, we’ll take the Nashville Predators to win on the moneyline (+155 and +165), especially if Pavel Francouz gets the start for the Avs.
NHL Pick: Predators (+155)
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