We have an intriguing cross-conference matchup on Wednesday night between a pair of solid teams as the Detroit Red Wings head West to face the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver. The puck will drop at 9:30 PM ET. Detroit is coming off a brutal 4-0 loss to a divisional rival in the Florida Panthers and will be motivated to bounce back here. Colorado meanwhile blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 on Monday evening and continues to surge up the Central Division standings. Continue reading for our Red Wings vs Avalanche picks.
Before diving into the NHL picks, check out our top hockey betting sites and the Vegas odds for the NHL in the 2023-24 season.
The Avs are sitting at -193 odds for an implied win probability of 65.87%. The Red Wings come back at +171 and have been given a 36.90% chance of coming out victorious in Denver. The total in goals is set at 6.5. When it comes to recent meetings, Colorado has won 10 of the last 11 against Detroit, but the Wings did beat them in their most recent clash in February, 2-1.
It’s common knowledge the Atlantic Division is one of the toughest in the entire league with so many contenders. Yet, the Red Wings are managing to stay in the playoff mix. Detroit is currently occupying the final postseason spot in fourth with a 33-22-6 record, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are right on their heels. It will be a difficult battle to keep the Bolts out of the playoffs. Regardless, the Red Wings are doing their best.
Although Detroit is currently in the midst of a two-game losing streak, they’ve gone 6-4 in the last 10 contests and did win six in a row before hitting this small cold spell. During that span, Derek Lalonde’s squad beat the likes of Colorado, Calgary, St. Louis, and Washington. The Wings were rather poor on Saturday against the Panthers, however, failing to get on the scoresheet and registering a mere 21 shots in total. They were also outplayed from a physical standpoint, with Florida collecting 40 hits to only 25 for Detroit.
Offense is the clear strength for this team though, ranking sixth in goals scored with 3.51. Dylan Larkin is enjoying a massive campaign, scoring 26 goals and tallying 28 assists in 55 games played. Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond are also part of the 50-point club while six others have at least 30 points. Patrick Kane has been a really nice addition, adding 31 points in only 30 appearances. The Wings have a 15-12-1 record on the road in 2023-24.
We all know Colorado won the Cup back in 2021-22 before being shocked in the first round last season. But, they truly look to be a contender who could go all the way again in the coming months. The Avalanche are only two points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division, compiling a 38-20-5 record. You’re looking at the best offensive club in the NHL, scoring 3.65 times per night.
Nathan MacKinnon is a major reason for that. He’s only one of two players to reach 100 points already, tallying 105, including 39 goals and 66 assists. Mikko Rantanen also has 79 points, while Cale Makar, one of the best blue liners around, has 66 points. Valeri Nichushkin was enjoying a career year before entering the league’s Player Assistance Program but he’s since been cleared and should return to the Avs soon. That’ll provide them with a big boost since he’s a point-per-game type guy.
MacKinnon was the star of the show against the Blackhawks, scoring twice and setting up two others. Jonathan Drouin and Cale Makar also found the back of the net. Colorado has countless weapons and a stout defense as well, which is why many believe Jared Bednar’s group could be in the Cup Finals. Good luck beating the Avs at Ball Arena where they have a mind-boggling 24-6-0 record.
Between the Avalanche’s dominance of the Red Wings and their impressive play on home ice, the pick is rather obvious on Wednesday. Take the Colorado moneyline with the utmost confidence.
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