Free NHL Picks Today: Colorado Avalanche vs Arizona Coyotes 3/24/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Colorado Avalanche vs Arizona Coyotes 3/24/23
Fri 24th March 2023

The Colorado Avalanche (41-23-6) host the Arizona Coyotes (27-33-12) at Ball Arena on Friday. Arizona is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss against the Oilers on Wednesday, their fifth straight defeat away from home.

The Coyotes committed four penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Clayton Keller was the top goalscorer for the Coyotes with two goals. Connor Ingram only had 27 saves on 31 shots against (.870%) in the loss.

Colorado fell 5-2 to the Penguins on Wednesday. J.T. Compher and Devon Toews both scored once for the Avalanche. Compher added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Alexandar Georgiev only had 40 saves on 44 shots against (.909%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 3-2 (OT) victory for the Avalanche on March 11. Nathan MacKinnon (1G 1A) and Mikko Rantanen (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Colorado. Jack McBain and Keller were on the scoresheet for Arizona. Georgiev got the win, saving 18 of 20 shots (.900%).

FACING OFF

Arizona is averaging 2.78 goals per game for the season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.76 goals a game (8th).

Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 3.26 times a game on average, 14th in the league, and the Coyotes are allowing opponents to score 3.43 goals per game (24th).

Arizona averages fewer shots per game (25.7) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 11.0% shooting percentage ranks sixth. Colorado has been up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 4 with a team save percentage of .917%.

Don’t be surprised to see a few power play opportunities for the Avalanche, as the Coyotes are averaging 4.51 penalties per game, third-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 11.03 penalty minutes a game ranks seventh-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.79 times a game (14th) for an average of 8.59 minutes (17th).

The Avalanche’s 24.89% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Coyotes rank 23rd with a conversion rate of 19.43%. When it comes to defending power plays, Colorado has the league’s 18th-ranked PK% at 78.60%, while Arizona is 23rd at 76.28%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 78 points this season, Keller is the top skater for the Coyotes. He has 34 goals and 44 assists in 72 games. In the net, Karel Vejmelka (18-20-5) is Arizona’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.33 GAA and a .904% save percentage.

MacKinnon and Rantanen lead the Avalanche in scoring with 90 and 85 points, respectively. MacKinnon ranks sixth in the league in points scored on the season. He has 30 goals and 60 assists (8th) in 59 games, while Rantanen has 47 goals (3rd) and 38 assists () in 70 games.

Pavel Francouz (7-7-1) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.53. He has a save percentage of .919%. Georgiev (32-15-5) has played the most games in net for the Avalanche this season. He has a 2.56 GAA and a .919% save percentage, fifth-best in the league.

HOME AND AWAY

Arizona is 7-22-9 on the road this season. Colorado is 19-12-5 at Ball Arena this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

Colorado Avalanche -2.5 (+100)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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