Colorado Avalanche vs Ottawa Senators Betting Picks

Colorado has won eight of nine, allowing just 18 goals. The defense is 13th in the league in goals given up (2.86 per game) and 14th in penalty killing. The Avalanche is on a 23-19-1 run UNDER the total, including 4-3-1 UNDER on the road. Ottawa focuses on defense, ranked 11th in goals allowed (2.85 per game) and 10th in save percentage (.906). They've won six of seven allowing 20 goals. The offense is 17th in goals scored and 25th in save percentage. Take Colorado/Ottawa UNDER the total. 

Colorado has turned it around after losing its first four games of the season as the Avalanche are getting healthier and they come off a 5-1 win over Utah on Thursday. Cale Makar leads the NHL with 15 points and 12 assists and tonight's likely goalie Justus Annunen is 3-1-0 with a 2.08 goals-against average for the Avalanche. Ottawa lost to Vegas 6-4 on Friday when the Golden Knights scored three times in a span of 1:25 of the third period. Linus Ullmark gave up five of the goals and he is probable for this game after allowing nine goals his past two starts. Ullmark is 1-2-0 with a 3.44 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage. Colorado has won seven of the past eight meetings, including the past five at home. Take the Avalanche.

Colorado is dominant at home but just 10-8-3 on the road. The defense is 16th in the league in goals given up and 24th in save percentage (.896). They've allowed four goals in each of the last two meetings with Ottawa. Ottawa has a winning home record after a 5-4 victory over San Jose. It's their second straight home game and the offense is 10th in the NHL in goals scored (3.32 per game). Ottawa is 12-2 at home against defenses that allow 3+ goals per game in the second half of the season, so back the home dog. Make it a Max Play on Ottawa.

Ottawa's offense is 13th in scoring (3.33 goals per game) and 14th in shooting percentage. Ottawa is 82-71 after two straight road losses. Colorado is dealing with a lot of injuries. They're on a 4-7 run losing as chalk of -200, -235, -135, -170, -115, and -230. They come off a 3-2 loss to last-place Chicago as a big favorite. The offense failed to score a five-on-five goal against the NHL's third-worst defense. With Ottawa 23-17 on the road after losing five or more games in a row, back the visitors to pull the upset against the sloppy and sliding big home favorite. Play Ottawa.