Posted on
12/12/2007 2:47:51 PM
Bet On NHL - Colorado Avalanche vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
By Robby Maddux
The Colorado Avalanche (Even) are coming off a 9-5 win over St. Louis on Sunday, but the NHL betting fans need to know: Can the Avalanche continue their offensive onslaught tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets (-120) at Nationwide Arena?
The last time a team posted a nine-goal performance was when Toronto beat Boston 10-2 and San Jose defeated Detroit 9-4 on Jan. 4. The Avalanche scored five times in the second period alone in Sunday's dominating appearance, which added to their already impressive offensive numbers.
- Avalanche are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a win.
- Avalanche are 40-12-3 in their last 55 games playing on 2 days rest.
The victory marked the 12th time Colorado has scored at least four goals this season, and they are 11-1-0 when doing so. Only Detroit has reached the four-goal mark as many times. The Avalanches' 91 goals are second to the Red Wings' 104 in the Western Conference. Colorado is scoring 3.05 goals per contest.
The only game the Avalanche lost when they scored four times happened last Wednesday against tonight's opponent, as the Blue Jackets won 5-4 in Columbus. Colorado, however, won the other meeting this season 5-1 on Oct. 13, and has completely dominated the series since the Blue Jackets entered the league in 2000, going 22-2-1 with one tie. The Avalanche have outscored Columbus 101-40 in those 26 games.
In the most recent meeting, Colorado was without franchise career points leader Joe Sakic, who's been sidelined for five straight games with a sore groin. The injury is expected to keep him out for at least two more contests.
Stastny had a goal in Wednesday's game against Columbus. Hejduk was kept out of the net but had an assist. Peter Budaj had 26 saves on the night in the losing effort. Budaj is now 4-2 against the Blue Jackets over his career with a 2.01 GAA (goals-average against). Budaj has struggled on the road this season where he's 2-5.
The Avalanche is led by center Paul Stastny and right wing Milan Hejduk. The duo has 13 goals each to be tied for a team-best, and they've racked up 39 assists for 65 points between them.
Colorado comes into tonight's game at 16-12-1 to be mid-pack in the
Northwest with 33 points behind a defense that's allowed 87 goals on the year with a 3.05 GAA. They are 4-9-1 on the road.
- Avalanche are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Central.
- Avalanche are 7-1 in their last 8 Wednesday games.
- Avalanche are 252-120-38 in their last 410 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Avalanche are 2-6 in their last 8 road games.
Columbus is coming off a home loss to Anaheim 4-3 in overtime on Monday. The Blue Jackets are in the midst of a stretch in which they play 11-of-13 at Nationwide Arena before the end of 2007. They're 1-1-2 in the first four games, the sole win coming against Colorado. Overall, Columbus is 13-11-6 and 8-4-4 at home. They are mid-pack in the Central with 32 points.
- Blue Jackets are 21-46-5 in their last 72 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Blue Jackets are 15-36-2 in their last 53 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Columbus goalie Pascal Leclaire is 10-6-3 in 21 starts and leads the league with six shutouts this season. His 2.02 GAA and save percentage of .927 are among the league's best.
However, he hasn't won in his last five starts as the Blue Jackets have struggled offensively, scoring just 10 times in those games. Leclaire was pulled during the team's win over Colorado on Wednesday after allowing three second-period goals.
Leclaire is 0-4 against Colorado over his career with a 3.85 GAA. At home, he's 7-4 with a 2.02 GAA.
Columbus' 76 goals are among the fewest in the West. They are scoring 2.48 goals per game with a team GAA of 2.35.
Though Columbus has struggled to score goals, Rick Nash has 18 to lead the team and Nikolai Zherdev 12, but no other Blue Jacket has more than five.
- Blue Jackets are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Blue Jackets are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. Northwest.
- Blue Jackets are 1-5 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Blue Jackets are 2-5 in their last 7 home games.
- Blue Jackets are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
NHL odds list Columbus the money-line favorites at -120 (-1½ +220) with a game total of 5½ over -115.
- Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a favorite.
- Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
- Blue Jackets are 4-10 in their last 14 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
- Avalanche are 0-4 in their last 4 games as an underdog.
- Avalanche are 0-4 in their last 4 games as a road underdog.
Analysis: Even with the Columbus win against Colorado on Wednesday, the Avalanche still owns the Blue Jackets who's struggling to score. Too much fire power by Colorado for Columbus to hang in this one. So to answer the question: Can the Avalanche continue their offensive onslaught tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena? Yes!
NHL Free Picks: Colorado Avalanche (Even)
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