The Colorado Avalanche (20-15-3) play host to the Florida Panthers (18-19-4) at Ball Arena on Tuesday. Florida is coming off a 5-1 loss against the Stars on Sunday. The Panthers committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal. Carter Verhaeghe scored the lone goal for the Panthers.
Spencer Knight only had 29 saves on 33 shots against (.878%) in the loss. Colorado beat the Oilers 3-2 (OT) on Saturday. Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Brad Hunt each scored once for the Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev saved 28 of 30 shots in the win (.933%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 3-2 victory for the Avalanche in December. Andre Burakovsky (3G 0A) and Mikko Rantanen (0G 3A) each had three points to lead Colorado. Verhaeghe led Florida with two points (0G 2A). Darcy Kuemper got the win, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935%).
FACING OFF
Florida is averaging 3.22 goals per game for the season, 15th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.84 goals a game (11th). Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 2.87 times a game on average, 25th in the league, and the Panthers are allowing opponents to score 3.41 goals per game (23rd).
Florida averages more shots (35.4) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 9.2% shooting percentage is 26th. Colorado’s average of 33.3 attempts ranks sixth. Look for multiple power play opportunities for the Avalanche, as the Panthers are averaging 4.83 penalties per game, most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 11.93 penalty minutes a game ranks third-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.87 times a game (18th) for an average of 8.68 minutes (18th).
The Avalanche’s 24.24% power play percentage ranks ninth in the league, while the Panthers are 24th with a conversion rate of 19.59%. When it comes to penalty killing, Colorado has the league’s 21st-ranked PK% at 75.20%, while Florida is 22nd at 74.84%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 49 points this season, Matthew Tkachuk is the top skater for the Panthers. He has 20 goals and 29 assists in 38 games. In the net, Knight (9-6-3) is Florida’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.00 GAA and a .908% save percentage. Sergei Bobrovsky (9-12-1) leads the Panthers in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 3.26 and a save percentage of .895%.Rantanen leads the Avalanche in scoring with 48 points (10th in the league). He has 26 goals (6th in the league) and 22 assists in 38 games. Georgiev (16-10-3) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.67. He has a save percentage of .916%.
HOME AND AWAY
Florida is 8-13-1 on the road this season. Colorado has dropped three in a row at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
