Colorado Avalanche vs Washington Capitals Betting Picks

Colorado is the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the NHL this season. The Avalanche did that by defeating the Blackhawks, 4-1, in Chicago two days ago. That halted a three-game losing streak and has put the Avalanche back on the right path. Don't expect a letup here as the Avalanche are only three points ahead of Dallas for the most points in the Western Conference. This is more than a fair price to lay given how superior Colorado is to Washington. The Capitals are six points back of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. They were sellers at the trade deadline. Colorado is first both offensively and defensively. The Capitals are 17th in scoring and 29th on the power play. They have only managed to score more than two goals per game in two of their last nine games. Take the Avalanche.

Colorado has a winning road record and is playing well on a 10-5 run. They've had two days off after winning at Philadelphia, 3-2. The offense is 11th in scoring, 13th in shooting percentage, and fourth on the power play. Center Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (34) and assists (27). Colorado is also on a 5-1 run UNDER the total on the road. Washington comes home after playing four of five on the road. The offense is 23rd on the power play and leading-scorer Alex Ovechkin (leg injury) has been placed on injured reserve, ruled week-to-week. He leads the NHL in goals (15) and has scored five over the last two games. The defense is 12th in goals allowed. Colorado has won four of the last five matchups against Washington, so back the visitors in a defensive duel. Play Colorado + UNDER the total. 

Colorado won the only meeting this season 6-2 on Jan. 24 when Alexandar Georgiev stopped 23 of 25 shots and Nathan MacKinnon scored four goals for the Avalanche. Georgiev is expected in net tonight with a 27-13-3 record and 2.94 goals-against average. Charlie Lindgren is likely for Washington and he allowed all six goals in the last meeting. Lindgren shutout the Bruins on Saturday, but he'd lost four in a row before that. The Avalanche will be looking to salvage something from this road trip after losing the first four games. The Capitals haven't fared much better recently, losing seven of their past eight, including 3-2 in overtime to Vancouver on Sunday, and they have scored more than three goals just once in that span and they lost that one. Washington has lost 11 of 15 Tuesday games and it averages only 2.37 goals per game this season. Take the Avalanche as my NHL Game of the Month.