The Vancouver Canucks (16-18-3) play host to the Colorado Avalanche (19-14-3) at Rogers Arena on Thursday in a clash of teams looking to snap losing runs. Colorado is coming off a 3-2 loss against the Golden Knights on Monday, their fourth straight defeat.
Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen both scored once for the Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev only had 25 saves on 28 shots against (.892%) in the loss.
Vancouver lost for the third game in a row, falling 6-2 to the Islanders on Tuesday. Bo Horvat scored twice to lead the Canucks. Spencer Martin only had 23 saves on 28 shots against (.821%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Canucks won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-3 victory in November. Ethan Bear (1G 1A), Sheldon Dries (1G 1A), and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Vancouver.
Rantanen (2G 0A), J.T. Compher (0G 2A), and Artturi Lehkonen (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Colorado. Martin got the win, saving 33 of 36 shots (.916%).
FACING OFF
Colorado is averaging 2.89 goals per game for the season, 25th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canucks team that is allowing 3.86 goals a game (30th).
Meanwhile, Vancouver has found the net 3.35 times a game on average, eighth in the league, and the Avalanche are allowing opponents to score 2.83 goals per game (12th).
The Avalanche and Canucks are tied for seventh in the league in power play percentage with a conversion rate of 25.20%. Vancouver has been less successful at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s lowest PK% at 67.59%. Colorado’s 75.22% ranks 21st in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 47 points this season, eighth-most in the NHL, Rantanen is the top skater for the Avalanche. He is among the league leaders with 25 goals (5th) and has added 22 assists. In the net, Georgiev (15-9-3) is Colorado’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.68 GAA and a .915% save percentage. Elias Pettersson and Horvat lead the Canucks in scoring with 44 and 42 points, respectively. Pettersson has 17 goals and 27 assists, while Horvat has 28 goals (3rd) and 14 assists (). Martin (11-6-1) has the best goals against average for Vancouver at 3.55. He has a save percentage of .886%.
HOME AND AWAY
Colorado is 10-7-0 away from home this season. Vancouver is 7-10-1 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Vancouver Canucks (-155)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
