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NHL picks: Avalanche vs. Blackhawks and Oilers vs. Blues
St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist keeps his eyes on the play. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
December 18th, 2019
The Avalanche and Blackhawks will be featured on national TV when they meet Wednesday night at the United Center. We’ll handicap this Central Division showdown, as well as an intriguing Blues-Oilers matchup.
Colorado Avalanche (21-9-3) at Chicago Blackhawks (13-15-6), 8 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
The Avalanche should be able to exploit the Blackhawks’ porous defense at the United Center on Wednesday night and cruise to an easy victory.
Colorado boasts the NHL’s top offense by goals per game (3.6), and this unit has been rolling during the Avs’ recent 8-1-1 run. Top forward Nathan MacKinnon has 18 points during that 10-game stretch. Chicago is a lackluster 26th in goals allowed per game (3.3) and is dead-last in the league in shots allowed per contest (36).
Colorado boasts the NHL’s top offense by goals per game (3.6), and this unit has been rolling during the Avs’ recent 8-1-1 run. Top forward Nathan MacKinnon has 18 points during that 10-game stretch. Chicago is a lackluster 26th in goals allowed per game (3.3) and is dead-last in the league in shots allowed per contest (36).
Nathan MacKinnon is second in the league in shots. He gets the penalty kill to bite so hard on this shot fake, before putting it on a platter for Landeskog. Insanely smooth pic.twitter.com/iJEfRMEGlx
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) December 14, 2019
Trends bettors should note Colorado is 5-1 in its last six games against teams with losing records, while the Blackhawks are 11-25 in their last 36 games as a home underdog.
NHL free pick: Avalanche moneyline
Edmonton Oilers (19-13-4) at St. Louis Blues (21-8-6), 8:30 p.m. ET
This battle of division leaders features a slumping Oilers squad and a surging Blues team, and bettors should not be looking for a sudden change in momentum on Wednesday night. Edmonton has won just four of its last 16 games at the Enterprise Center, but the juice is far too steep on St. Louis, so we’ll look toward the totals market for a play.
The Blues have realized an uptick in goals over their last 10 games, putting 33 pucks in the net in that span. Center Oskar Sundqvist leads all Blues skaters with six goals in that span, but left winger David Perron took the team lead in goals (15) with a Tuesday hat trick against the Avalanche. The Oilers have allowed 3.7 goals per game over their last 10 contests.
The Blues have realized an uptick in goals over their last 10 games, putting 33 pucks in the net in that span. Center Oskar Sundqvist leads all Blues skaters with six goals in that span, but left winger David Perron took the team lead in goals (15) with a Tuesday hat trick against the Avalanche. The Oilers have allowed 3.7 goals per game over their last 10 contests.
David Perron again, this time on the power play! Second of the night for Perron!#STLBlues pic.twitter.com/dFTUEf4kq6
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) December 17, 2019
Edmonton is still a dangerous offensive team, as they lead the NHL in power-play percentage (31.5). They’ve registered at least one power-play goal in eight consecutive games.
NHL free pick: Over
The action on the ice is heating up. Check out all the NHL matchups at BetAmerica!
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