Free NHL Picks Today: Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks 3/20/23

The Colorado Avalanche (40-22-6) will be looking to add to their winning streak when they welcome the Chicago Blackhawks (24-39-6) at Ball Arena on Monday. Chicago is coming off a 4-2 loss against the Coyotes on Saturday.

The Blackhawks took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring once on five shots while holding Arizona without a power play goal. Jujhar Khaira and Caleb Jones both scored once for the Blackhawks.

Alex Stalock saved only 17 of 20 shots against (.850%) in the loss. Colorado won for the fifth game in a row, beating the Red Wings 5-1 on Saturday. Five players found the net for the Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon scored and provided two assists to share the scoring lead with Cale Makar, who had three assists. Alexandar Georgiev was impressive in the win, making 33 saves (.970%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 3-2 victory for the Blackhawks in January. Taylor Raddysh, Sam Lafferty, and Andreas Athanasiou were on the scoresheet for Chicago. MacKinnon led Colorado with two points (0G 2A). Petr Mrazek got the win, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939%).

FACING OFF

Chicago is averaging 2.51 goals per game for the season, worst in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.76 goals a game (9th).

Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 3.25 times a game on average, 14th in the league, and the Blackhawks are allowing opponents to score 3.51 goals per game (25th).

Chicago averages fewer shots/game (26.7) than any other team in the league. Colorado has proven to be one of the league’s better shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 5 with a team save percentage of .916%.

The Avalanche’s 24.42% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Blackhawks rank 28th with a conversion rate of just 16.67%. In terms of defending power plays, Colorado has the league’s 18th-ranked PK% at 78.95%, while Chicago is 20th at 77.00%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 49 and 45 points this season, Max Domi and Patrick Kane have been the top skaters for the Blackhawks. In the net, Mrazek (8-19-3) is Chicago’s top goaltender. He has a 3.63 GAA and a .895% save percentage.

MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen lead the Avalanche in scoring with 88 and 83 points, respectively. MacKinnon ranks eighth in the league in points scored on the season. He has 30 goals and 58 assists (7th) in 57 games, while Rantanen has 46 goals (3rd) and 37 assists ().

Pavel Francouz (7-7-1) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.53. He has a save percentage of .919%. Georgiev (31-14-5) has played the most games in net for the Avalanche this season. He has a 2.58 GAA and a .918% save percentage.