The Colorado Avalanche (43-23-6) travel to meet the Anaheim Ducks (23-40-10) Monday. Puck drop from Honda Center is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Avalanche vs. Ducks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Avalanche picked up a 4-3 win in a shootout in Arizona on Sunday, sweeping a home-and-home set with the Coyotes. Colorado plays the 2nd-end of a back-to-back in Anaheim, going 20-6 in the last 26 games when working on no rest.
The Ducks have won just 15 of the past 51 home games, while going just 13-41 in the past 54 games against Central Division teams. The Ducks are also 0-4 in the last 4 games when playing on a day of rest.
Anaheim picked up a 5-3 win in Denver on Jan. 26 as the Over connected. It was a rare win, as the Avalanche had won 7 in a row, while also going 5-1 in the last 6 trips to Anaheim. The teams meet April 9 in Anaheim in their final regular-season meeting.
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Avalanche at Ducks odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:19 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Avalanche -270 (bet $270 to win $100) | Ducks +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche -1.5 (-110) | Ducks -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +108)
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Avalanche at Ducks projected goalies
Jonas Johansson (1-0-0, 2.88 GAA, .907 SV%) vs. John Gibson (14-28-8, 3.93 GAA, .900 SV%, 1 SO)
Johansson made his 1st start of the season on Thursday in Ottawa. It was also just his 2nd appearance in the NHL, as he came on in relief Dec. 31. Johansson allowed 4 goals on 36 shots in the victory over the Senators, his 1st NHL win since Dec. 2, 2021.
Gibson allowed 6 goals on 36 shots on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. He has struggled in March, going 2-5-2 with a 3.80 GAA and .894 SV% in 9 starts this month.
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Avalanche at Ducks picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 5, Ducks 1
Moneyline
The Avalanche (-270) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too much for a singular bet. Colorado is playing for the 3rd time in 4 days, and it lost the 1st meeting on home ice against the Ducks (+225), too.
Still, don’t expect the defending champs to lose to the lowly Ducks again. But you can’t risk this much for such a small reward.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The AVALANCHE -1.5 (-105) are a better play on the puck line at near even-money.
In the last 5 games as a favorite, Colorado has cashed on the puck line 3 times. And while the Avs lost to the Ducks on Jan. 26, Colorado has won 7 of the last 8 meetings in this series, with all 7 victories coming by 2 or more goals.
Over/Under
The UNDER 6.5 (+108) is the lean, but go lightly.
The Under has cashed in 7 straight meetings in Anaheim. While the Avs have cashed the Over at a 4-1-2 clip in the last 7 skates on the road, the Under is 13-5 in the last 18 when working on no rest, and 5-2-1 in the last 8 against losing teams.
The Under is 5-2 in the last 7 against the Western Conference for the Ducks, and 8-3-1 in the last 12 when working on a day of rest.