Free NHL Picks Today: Anaheim Ducks vs Colorado Avalanche 4/9/23

The Colorado Avalanche (-310), one of the league’s top power play offenses, are on the road to face the Anaheim Ducks (+250) and their weak penalty killing defense at Honda Center on Sunday. The total is 6.5 (O: -115, U: -105)Both teams will be playing their second game in as many days.

The Avalanche are 8-3 without rest, while the Ducks are 1-9. Colorado (48-24-6) is wrapping up a four-game road trip coming off a 4-3 win over the Kings yesterday, their fourth consecutive win. The Avalanche committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.

Denis Malgin led the Avalanche with two goals. Alexandar Georgiev saved an impressive 38 of 41 shots (.926%) in the win. Anaheim (23-45-11) lost for the 10th game in a row, falling 5-4 (OT) to the Coyotes yesterday. Adam Henrique was the leading goal scorer for the Ducks, netting twice. Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists to lead the team in scoring. Olle Eriksson Ek saved only 34 of 39 shots against (.871%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 5-1 victory for the Avalanche in March. Nathan MacKinnon (1G 1A), Bowen Byram (1G 1A), and Cale Makar (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Colorado. Derek Grant scored Anaheim’s only goal. Jonas Johansson got the win, saving 29 of 30 shots (.966%).

FACING OFF

Colorado is averaging 3.33 goals per game for the season, 11th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Ducks team that is allowing 4.08 goals a game (32nd). Meanwhile, Anaheim has found the net 2.49 times a game on average, 31st in the league, and the Avalanche are allowing opponents to score 2.72 goals per game (9th).

Anaheim averages fewer shots a game (28.3) than most teams in the league, ranking 28th, while the team’s 8.9% shooting percentage is 31st. Colorado has proven to be one of the league’s best shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 5 with a team save percentage of .917%.

The Avalanche will be looking to build on their fifth-ranked power play percentage of 24.69% against the Ducks, who are the league’s third-weakest penalty killing team (72.69%). Anaheim, meanwhile, has scored on just 15.45% of their power play opportunities (30th), which the home team will be aiming to improve on against Colorado’s 18th-ranked 78.63% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

MacKinnon (104 points), Mikko Rantanen (98), and Makar (66) have been the top skaters this season for the Avalanche. MacKinnon and Rantanen are the sixth- and 10th-leading point scorers in the NHL. Rantanen is among the league leaders with his 52 goals (3rd), while MacKinnon is among the league leaders with his 67 assists (7th).

Makar has also been an offensive leader for Colorado, scoring 17 and assisting 49. In the net, Pavel Francouz (7-7-1) is Colorado’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.53 GAA and a .919% save percentage. Georgiev (38-16-5) leads the Avalanche in games played in goal.

He has a GAA of 2.54 and a save percentage of .918%.Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry lead the Ducks in scoring with 61 and 57 points, respectively.

Zegras has 22 goals and 39 assists, while Terry has 22 goals and 35 assists. John Gibson (14-30-8) is the top goalie for Anaheim with a goals against average of 3.99. He has a save percentage of .899%.