Canucks vs Avalanche Prediction, Odds & Best Bets | NHL Picks Today (2/20): Can Vancouver Rebound From Monday’s Collapse?

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Canucks vs Avalanche NHL Betting Trends

• Vancouver is 8-4 straight up in its last 12 road games.
• Colorado is 5-0 straight up in its last five home games.
• The total hit the Over in four of Vancouver’s last five games vs. the Central Division.
• The total hit the Over in five of Colorado’s last six games.
• The total hit the Over in five of the last nine Vancouver-Colorado matchups.

Canucks vs Avalanche Prediction & Pick (2/20): Juggernauts Collide in Denver

It’s going to be a treat when these star-studded teams collide at Ball Arena tonight. After all, they’re two of the NHL’s best clubs. The Canucks are currently the No. 1 team in the league with 80 points through 57 games while the Avalanche aren’t too shabby themselves, sitting four points back of the Central Division’s top spot with 72.

They’ve also excelled in the respective roles they hold tonight. Vancouver is a solid 18-13 SU as the visitor while Colorado owns a 21-5 SU record at home this season.

That’s without even mentioning the handful of individual award candidates involved in tonight’s game. The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon is currently the +160 favorite to win the Hart Memorial Trophy while the Canucks’ Quinn Hughes is the Norris Trophy favorite (-240) in addition to Thatcher Demko owning the second-best Vezina odds (+320).

The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon leads a strong list of potential award candidates involved in tonight’s matchup.

But even with all the talent they have, the Canucks didn’t look like contenders in yesterday’s loss to the Wild. Vancouver had a 5-2 lead at one point but couldn’t hold on as Minnesota scored six unanswered goals and never looked back, handing Rick Tocchet’s club one of their more embarrassing losses of the season.

Bouncing back tonight won’t be easy, though. For starters, the Canucks are only 4-3 SU in the second half of back-to-back this season. Secondly, they’re just 4-6 SU in their 10 previous meetings with the Avalanche, which includes a one-sided 5-2 loss at Ball Arena back in November.

Upsetting Colorado is also going to be a bit tougher due to Vancouver’s special teams struggles. Not only does the power play have just one goal on the last 22 opportunities (4.5%), but the penalty killed only has a 63.2% success rate (12-for-19) over the last four games.

Meanwhile, the Avs have seen plenty of special teams success at Ball Arena lately. The Avalanche have racked up 10 PP goals on the last 37 chances (27.0%) while killing 24 of the last 28 penalties (85.7%) they’ve taken at home.

That’s without mentioning how Colorado is operating at 37.5% on the power play and 96.2% on the penalty kill in its last seven counters with Vancouver.

The Canucks’ special teams have struggled in their recent meetings with the Avalanche.

The Canucks are one of the NHL’s best teams for a reason, but I can’t bring myself to trust them less than 24 hours after yesterday’s collapse. Instead, I’m taking the Avalanche. Colorado already beat Vancouver at Ball Arena earlier this season and is currently on a five-game winning streak at home. As long as the Avs continue to find success on special teams, improving to 2-0 against the Canucks this year is a real possibility.

I’m also going to keep things simple by backing the Avs on the moneyline. Even though I’m not a fan of the Canucks tonight, they’re still elite and I don’t feel comfortable enough to project them to lose by two goals. The Avalanche will still prevail, however, things could be closer than expected.

Canucks vs Avalanche Prediction: COL wins

Best Canucks vs Avalanche NHL Bet: COL ML (-138)

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Best Canucks vs Avalanche NHL Player Prop (2/20)

You can’t go wrong with a few Canucks vs. Avalanche player props tonight, including Mikko Rantanen to record over 3.5 shots on goal.

Rantanen has been consistent at generating offense to the point where he’s finished with four or more shots on goal in exactly 50% of his appearances this season. He’s also finished with the Over on this prop in five of his last six games, including each of the last four. Additionally, this prop is 3-1 in his last four meetings with the Canucks.

Throw in the fact that Rantanen also finished with four-plus SOG in 10 of his last 14 home games and it’s even easier to back this wager tonight.

Best Canucks vs Avalanche Prop Bet: Mikko Rantanen o3.5 Shots on Goal (-110)

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