Canucks vs Avalanche Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Scoring Soars at Altitude

The Canucks allowed a whopping 10 goals on Monday and get to turn around and face the daunting Avalanche at altitude tonight. They should come out firing but Colorado is a very strong home team and can hold serve on the offensive front.

Josh Inglis - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Josh Inglis • Betting Analyst
Feb 20, 2024 • 12:52 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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The Vancouver Canucks sacrificed goalie Casey DeSmith yesterday who allowed eight goals in the 10-7 loss to Minnesota. That’s because they had to travel to altitude today and take on the Colorado Avalanche who are 2-5 SU in their last seven. 

Bettors should expect a better response from the Canucks, who still lead the league in point percentage and goal differential and will have Thatcher Demko between the pipes. However, the Avs have been the best home team in hockey this year and have the schedule advantage.

After an embarrassing collapse yesterday, the Canucks should come out strong and early scoring should be expected with the No.1 first-period home offense facing the No,1 first-period road offense. 

I break down the NHL odds and offer my free NHL picks for Canucks vs. Avalanche for Tuesday, February 20. 

Canucks vs Avalanche odds

Canucks vs Avalanche predictions

The Vancouver Canucks have the best first-period team in hockey and have won the 3-way 1P moneyline in 26 of 57 games on the year. This is also a team that gave up six unanswered goals to the Wild yesterday to erase a 5-2 lead, so a hot start should be expected from the visitors tonight. 

The Colorado Avalanche are also an early-scoring team with 60 first-period goals across 56 games, which is tied for the third-most in hockey. On the season, Vancouver is averaging 1.97 1P goals while the Avs are seeing even more at 2.1 per opening frame. 

With a tough trip to altitude coupled with an epic loss yesterday afternoon, I expect the Canucks to find the score sheet early but also struggle to keep the Avs off the board. 

Both teams to score a goal in the first frame is paying +145. Since the break, Colorado has hit this prop in six of eight games, including three in a row, while Vancouver has potted a 1P goal in six of eight first frames. 

With the 1P Over 1.5 paying -150, I’m betting on the No.1 home 1P offense and the No.1 1P road offense to tally markers in the first 20 minutes for solid plus money.  

My best bet: Both teams to score in the first period (+145 at SIA)

Canucks vs Avalanche same-game parlay

BTTS in first period

Over 6.5

This is a game between two of the most profitable Over teams that also score earlier than any other team in hockey. 

It's been impossible to slow down Nathan MacKinnon at home this year as he has a point in each of his 26 home matches this year and Vancouver has such scoring depth on its top two lines that the Avs will struggle to match up even with the last change. 

Both power plays could also be busy as each club is taking penalties at a Top-10 rate over the last 30 days which is great news for the Over as both PKs have been average at best over that same stretch. 

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Canucks vs Avalanche moneyline and Over/Under analysis

Colorado opened at -150 on the moneyline and has moved to -145, likely on bettors expecting a bounce-back effort from the Canucks after a humiliating loss yesterday. The Over is starting to take money and it’s understandable with both clubs being very profitable to the Over on the season. 

Tonight is an interesting spot for the Avalanche, who have the best home record in hockey at 21-5 and have the schedule advantage with the Canucks playing yesterday. 

Colorado exited the All-Star break with a 1-5 straight-up road trip but came home and beat the Yotes 4-3 on Sunday. MacKinnon has recorded a point in each of his 26 home games to begin the year, which is the second-longest run in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky’s 40 straight home games in 1988-89. 

It’s a tough turnaround for the Canucks to go to altitude with no days off. They do own one of the best road records at 18-9-4 and yesterday’s collapse will likely instill a better effort tonight, but going to Colorado is never a good thing.   

Colorado won the only meeting back in November 5-2 at home where Thatcher Demko stopped just 20 of 24 shots.

Looking at 5-on-5 play over the last 30 days, Vancouver is the much better team as the Avs’ xGA/60 ranks in the bottom five of the league. However, both offenses can handle some goals against and it’s a big reason both clubs have been very profitable to the Over this year. Combined, Vancouver and Colorado are 67-41-5 to the Over. 

Neither penalty kills are dominating over the last 30 days and Vancouver has given up six power-play goals over its last two games. With both teams taking penalties at Top-10 rates over the last 30 days, each PP could see ample opportunities tonight which favors the Over.

I think if bettors got on this Over 6.5 at -115 or -120 they would close with the better number. Each offense can pot three goals here and both teams are perfect Over teams as they each have great offenses that can erase early deficits. With projected early scoring, I’m getting on this Over 6.5 at -120, as well. 

Canucks vs Avalanche betting trend to know

The Avalanche have hit the 1P Over in 58 of their last 90 games (+14.40 Units / 11% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Avalanche.

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Canucks vs Avalanche game info

Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Puck drop: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: SNP, ALT

Canucks vs Avalanche latest injuries

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Josh Inglis - Covers
Betting Analyst

Josh Inglis is a rising star in the sports betting content space, specializing in MLB, NHL, and NFL markets. Since joining Covers in 2018, Josh has focused his betting expertise on player props and derivative markets, finding them easier for beating the closing line compared to sides and totals. His engaging analysis and content have been showcased on major networks such as TSN and NBC. Josh is a prolific bettor, tracking over 2,500 bets annually and he consistently shares his results through monthly transparency reports. At Covers, he is renowned for his MLB release shows and NHL Puck Props, which are integral parts of the site's live content lineup.

Before his tenure at Covers, Josh spent a decade teaching while pursuing sports media on the side. He has also contributed to live global senior-level broadcasts for the WBSC.

Josh advocates for sports bettors to bet early, emphasizing the importance of securing better numbers by beating the public to the market. He also advises having multiple sportsbook accounts to ensure access to the best possible odds. His preferred sportsbook is bet365, which he favors for its extensive range of player prop markets and live betting options.

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