Free NHL Picks Today: Colorado Avalanche vs Seattle Kraken 3/5/23

The Colorado Avalanche (-170) play host to the Seattle Kraken (+145), who will be out to build on their winning run, at Ball Arena on Sunday. The total is 6 (O: +100, U: -120)Seattle (35-21-6) is wrapping up a four-game road trip coming off a 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Friday, their third win in a row.

The Kraken committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Four players found the net for the Kraken. Philipp Grubauer had 21 saves in the win. Colorado (34-21-5) is returning home for a four-game homestand with the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 7-3 loss against the Stars yesterday.

Samuel Girard, Andrew Cogliano, and Evan Rodrigues each scored once for the Avalanche. Girard added two assists to lead the team in scoring. Alexandar Georgiev only had 14 saves on 19 shots (.736%) after starting in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 2-1 (SO) victory for the Avalanche in January. Alex Newhook scored Colorado’s only goal. Pavel Francouz got the win, saving 26 of 27 shots (.962%).

FACING OFF

Seattle is averaging 3.50 goals per game for the season, sixth in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.80 goals a game (10th).

Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 3.15 times a game on average, 16th in the league, and the Kraken are allowing opponents to score 3.15 goals per game (17th).

The Avalanche’s 23.16% power play percentage ranks eighth in the league, while the Kraken are 20th with a conversion rate of 20.44%. While efficient on the power play, Seattle has been less successful at penalty killing, as the away team possesses the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 73.89%. Colorado’s 77.60% ranks 18th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 50 and 48 points this season, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann have been the top skaters for the Kraken. In the net, Martin Jones (24-10-3) is Seattle’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.98 GAA and a .888% save percentage.

Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen lead the Avalanche in scoring with 73 and 72 points, respectively. MacKinnon has 24 goals and 49 assists (10th) in 49 games, while Rantanen has 41 goals (3rd) and 31 assists ().

Francouz (7-7-1) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.53. He has a save percentage of .919%. Georgiev (26-12-4) has played the most games in net for the Avalanche this season. He has a 2.57 GAA and a .921% save percentage, fifth-best in the league.

HOME AND AWAY

Seattle is seeking a fourth successive road win this season. Colorado is 16-10-4 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are 6-2 without a day off and 5-0 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Kraken are 7-6 with a rest advantage.