The NHL’s betting favorite to win it all will continue their campaign to the Cup on Tuesday as Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche take on the Chicago Blackhawks, who have been outscored 11-2 since returning to play. The visitors have seen plenty of love in the market as they’ve moved from -195 to -245 on the moneyline for tonight's contest.
Can MacKinnon keep his 10-game point streak rolling? Are the Blackhawks heading for another multi-game losing streak? Find out in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for the Avalanche vs. Blackhawks.
Avalanche vs Blackhawks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Colorado opened as -195 ML road favorites but have bet down heavily to -245 as of Tuesday morning. The total opened briefly at 5.5 but sits at 6 (-110 aside). The last meeting in October, the first game of the year for both clubs, saw the Avalanche close as -190 ML home favorites in a game Colorado won 4-2.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Avalanche vs Blackhawks predictions
- Prediction: Avalanche -1.5 (+110)
- Prediction: Over 6 (-110)
- Best bet: Avalanche team total Over 3.5 (-125)
Predictions made on 1/4/2022 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2022-22 NHL season, here are two of the best welcome bonuses available:
USA: Sign up with Caesars and get your first bet matched up to $1,001! Claim Now
Canada: Bet on any team to win a game involving a Canadian team at Betway — if they jump out to a 2-0 lead, you get paid out as a winner, regardless of the final result! Claim Now
Avalanche vs Blackhawks game info
• Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
• Puck drop: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN+ Hulu
Avalanche vs Blackhawks betting preview
Injuries
Avalanche: Valeri Nuchushkin F (Out).
Blackhawks: Kevin Lankinen G (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Avalanche vs Blackhawks head-to-head record (since 2019)
Avalanche: 6-2 SU, 33 goals for.
Blackhawks: 2-6 SU, 20 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Avalanche are 7-0 SU in their last seven when their opponent allows five goals or more in their previous game. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Blackhawks.
Avalanche vs Blackhawks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Moneyline/Puck line analysis
The Blackhawks have begun the restart the same way they ended it — by losing two straight games. Chicago got throttled 6-1 in their first game after the break and then immediately followed that up with a 5-1 loss to the Flames the following night. No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury missed both games but has since been removed from COVID protocol and is likely to start tonight versus the Avs’ league-leading offense. However, if the Hawks can’t muster up any offense, this +110 Colorado puck line could be the right play.
The Blackhawks have struggled with offensive consistency all year. They opened the season on a nine-game losing streak and averaged just 1.89 goals per game in October. Things have gotten a little better of late with a 2.22 goals-per-game mark on the season, but we’re still talking about an offense that scores the fewest 5-on-5 goals per game and creates the fewest high-danger shots at even strength. It doesn’t matter how good Fleury plays in net (2.74 GAA and .910 SV% since December) if Chicago can’t keep pace with an Avalanche team that averages over four goals per game and has covered the puck line in five of its last seven. We see no reason to take the underdog here.
Trends should always be taken with a grain of salt, but favorites are winning at nearly 80% and covering the puck line at 50% since the restart. The Covers NHL trend page shows us that favorites are 28-3-5 over the last seven days while also 18-19 ATS. If you were looking for value in the underdogs coming out of Christmas, it’s been a rough week for you.
The Avs showed a little rust in their first game in 10-days in Monday’s 4-2 win over the Ducks. They trailed 2-0 after the first 30 minutes but goalie Darcy Kuemper shut the door from there and the big boys got it done in the third period with three goals. Nathan MacKinnon finished with three assists and could be unstoppable now after some rest. He has 29 career points in 31 games against Chicago and is riding a 10-game point streak where he has totaled 17 points.
Colorado does have 13 more goals than expected on the season and leads the league with a 12.5% shooting, but if any team can sustain these numbers, it’s a healthy Avalanche squad. With one of the deepest rosters in the land and a goalie who is hopefully showing his worth after missing some time, there is a reason this team is still the betting favorite to capture the Cup.
Prediction: Avalanche -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under analysis
Colorado has been the most profitable Over team in the league this year with an 18-6-4 O/U mark heading into Tuesday’s match. It’s easy to understand when they’re scoring 4.21 goals per game and have the No. 8 power play while also trotting out the league’s No. 26 penalty kill.
Kuemper - Tuesday's probable starter - has shown some inconsistencies and has a -0.053 goals saved above expected/60, but the Avs have done a decent job at limiting high-quality chances. The Avalanche rank fifth in high-danger shots against, second in medium-danger shots against, and also allow the second-fewest defensive-zone turnovers in hockey. Defensively, this team might not be getting enough credit thanks to their offense and play in net.
Ultimately, the play on special teams is pushing us to the Over. Colorado has scored five power-play goals across its last four games while the penalty kill has also conceded nine goals in its last nine contests. MacKinnon & Co. could be putting up a crooked number just on the PP alone as the Hawks have been the worst PK team since Dec. 1 and are killing just 59% of their penalties over that stretch. The power-play prop markets are calling our name.
In a game that could feature two starting goalies with GAA’s above 2.70 and some special teams that also favor the Over, we’re jumping on the Over 6 (-110) while the Avalanche team total Over 3.5 (-125) is also in play.
Prediction: Over 6 (-110)
Best bet
We’re going to isolate this Colorado offense and hit their team total Over 3.5. This is the best offense in hockey that has scoring potential on the blueline and down to the bottom two lines. MacKinnon is in a groove with a 10-game point streak, Chicago has given up 11 goals since getting back on the ice, and this Avs PP will be facing the worst PK in hockey of late.
Kuemper's play in net should also keep the visitors in scoring mode as he has allowed at least two goals in six straight starts. Meanwhile, Fleury hasn’t played since December 17 and is coming out of COVID protocols. It’s a bad spot for Chicago who will also be playing its third game in four nights, which may have more of an effect now after a long break.
Pick: Avalanche team total over 3.5 (-125)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NHL Avalanche vs. Blackhawks picks, you could win $29.90 on a $10 bet?
Use our NHL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
