Avalanche vs Canucks Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: MacKinnon Double Dips in Vancouver

The Colorado Avalanche are on a push for the top spot in the West and they can cut into that difference tonight vs. the West-leading Vancouver Canucks who will be without their best player tonight in goalie Thatcher Demko.  

With a one-sided game last night that resulted in a light workload, an Art Ross trophy to win, and facing Casey DeSmith, Nathan MacKinnon is set up for another big game and the odds for two or more points are tough to ignore.

I break down the NHL odds and offer my free NHL picks for Avalanche vs. Canucks for Wednesday, March 13.  

Avalanche vs Canucks odds

Avalanche vs Canucks predictions

It might be another square play, but getting Nathan MacKinnon to score two or more points at +100 vs. Casey DeSmith now that Val Nichushkin is back is still a great price.

This was the same price I got last week vs. Detroit in Colorado that ended up closing at -140 — and Nichushkin was still out. 

Now the hulking winger is back and has turned this line into an even more dominant one. The Russian forward has two goals and two assists in a pair of games since missing 22 matches. Artturi Lehkonen was trying to fit in with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen but he is suited better for a middle-six role. Now this top line gets to feast on DeSmith who is taking over the crease with Thatcher Demko out. 

DeSmith’s last start was decent but also came against the Ducks so that doesn’t really count. In his six games before that, however, he went 1-5 SU with a 4.12 GAA and a sightly .843 save percentage. Vancouver is a great defensive team but the Avs don’t need volume to beat the Vancouver backup tonight. 

The Avs are on the second game of a back-to-back which might be giving this Over 1.5-point prop a little more value. Colorado crushed the Flames last night and the top line didn’t see a ton of ice time in the third period. They are rested for tonight.

"We were able to build the lead, roll four lines, didn't tax too many guys, which is a good thing going into the back-to-back in Vancouver," Avs coach Jared Bednar told reporters last night after their 6-2 win in Calgary.

MacKinnon has 22 points over his last 10 games and leads the NHL scoring by six points. He’s posted 2-plus points in seven of his last eight games, in 56% of his games this year, and in 77% of his games over the last 30 days. 

My best bet: Nathan MacKinnon Over 1.5 points (+100 at SIA)

Avalanche vs Canucks same-game parlay

Avalanche moneyline

Both teams to score in first period

Over 6.5 

+450 at Sports Interaction

This is a game between two of the best first-period teams so it's not a stretch to see a BTTS first period here. Colorado has returned a 12% ROI on the 1P ML over its last 91 games while the Canucks have a 25% ROI on the 1P ML over their last 83 games. 

The more scoring in this game the better advantage the Avs have. Vancouver has not been the best offensive team of late and can't get everyone going at the same time. If DeSmith is weak early in this game, things could really open up. This has the potential for a 6-3 game.

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Avalanche vs Canucks moneyline and Over/Under analysis

SIA opened this game as a pick ‘em but have since moved to Vancouver -115. The move to DeSmith from Demko has been known for days now so that is certainly priced in. Colorado is also on the second of a traveling back-to-back and will likely go with Alex Georgiev after Justus Annunen got the 6-2 win in Calgary last night.

If you’re a Vancouver backer, you’re trusting DeSmith who is 2-2-3 since Christmas with a 3.83 GAA and an ugly .853 save percentage. It’s also a Vancouver offense that ranks 21st in goals per game since the All-Star break and 25th in expected goals/60 at 5-on-5 over its last 10 games. If this game is a shootout, it’s an advantage for Colorado.

Vancouver’s best chance at winning this game is keeping it tight but facing MacKinnon and this offense with DeSmith might make that difficult. The Avs’ power play has also gone 5-for-16 over its last four games. 

Colorado does not need volume to score tonight and I’m leaning on the Avs who are looking like a much better team with Nikushkin in the lineup and will have their No.1 goalie in net. 

Georgiev has the edge over DeSmith but he is also a much better goalie at home which has me liking this game’s Over 6.5 at -115 or better. The Avs are a perfect Over team as they can play catchup like no other team in hockey outside of Edmonton and Toronto but also give up goals where its 3.44 road GAA ranks 22nd in the league on the season.

I like the Colorado top line to keep finding the scoresheet while the Canucks have scoring now on three lines. This game will also feature two of the best offensive defensemen in Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar and very good supporting partners in Devon Toews and Filip Hronek.

There is a lot of scoring talent in this game and road Georgiev (3.24 GAA and a .892 SV%) vs. DeSmith is not screaming a 2-1 game to me. 

Avalanche vs Canucks betting trend to know

The Colorado Avalanche have hit the Game Total Over in 29 of their last 48 away games (+8.85 Units / 16% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Canucks.

Avalanche vs Canucks game info

Avalanche vs Canucks latest injuries

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