Colorado Avalanche vs New York Rangers Betting Picks

First-place Colorado leads the NHL in points. They're 8-2-4 on the road, with an offense that is No. 1 in scoring (4.04 goals per game), while the defense is third in penalty killing, plus No. 1 in goals allowed (2.19 per game) and in save percentage (.920). They're on a 12-2 run. Meanwhile, New York's offense is 27th in scoring and 20th in shooting percentage, while the defense is 23rd in penalty killing. The Rangers are 3-8-1 at home. Play Colorado. 

Colorado won the first meeting 3-2 in overtime and the game went UNDER on Jan. 14. The Avalanche have stayed UNDER their past three games as they have scored only four goals in that span while allowing nine. They are 6-1 UNDER their past seven road games and New York has gone UNDER four straight versus teams with winning records. These teams are 6-0 UNDER the past six meetings and the Rangers have allowed more than three goals once in their past eight games. The expected starters are Mackenzie Blackwood, who has a 2.57 goals-against average, and Igor Shesterkin, who owns a 2.72 GAA. Take the UNDER.

New York is on an 8-17 run and the Rangers are playing their 10th road game over the last 14 contests. The offense is 20th in goals scored and 21st on the power play, while the defense is 21st in goals given up. Colorado's offense is seventh in goals scored behind Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Colorado is on a 12-5 run and begins a five-game homestand after getting shutout 3-0 in Winnipeg on Saturday. The Avs are 12-5 the past two years when coing home off a road loss, so back home ice. Play Colorado. 

New York goes for its fourth win in a row after defeating Philadelphia 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday when the Rangers became the first team to lock up a postseason berth. Adam Fox scored 36 seconds into overtime and Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves for the Rangers. Shesterkin is 30-15-2 with a 2.71 goals-against average and he has won five of his past seven starts. New York won the only meeting this season 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 5. Colorado is in a letdown situation after having its nine-game win streak snapped in a 2-1 loss to Montreal. New York has won four straight against teams that scored two or fewer goals their previous games and it is 6-1 after scoring five or more goals its previous game. New York has won eight of its past 10 games. Take the Rangers as a Max Play.