After two tough losses, the Canucks get back in the win column against the league’s bottom dwellers, the San Jose Sharks. The Canucks get a much more difficult opponent in the Colorado Avalanche. Tonight will be the first of three meetings between the two teams this season, but most notably, a matchup against the two offensive defencemen juggernauts, Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar. These two are atop the league lead in scoring, with Cale three points back of the league leader Quinn. It will be an exciting test for the Canuck captain as Makar has outperformed him so far in their young careers. A standout performance from either defencemen would likely catapult them into first in the Norris trophy race.
Game Preview:
The Canucks and Avalanche have flip-flopped wins over the last two seasons. Both teams have won three of their last six head-to-head matchups. Neither team is playing better than the other at the moment, as both the Canucks and Avalanche have 3-2 records coming into tonight’s game. One thing both teams are consistent with is goal-scoring. Vancouver has gone over the game total line of 6.5 in eight of their last ten games, while Colorado has gone over in seven of their last ten games. The former Northwest division rivals have seen 7+ goals in four of their last eight matchups. The Canucks are first in the league in goals for per game, with the Avalanche not far behind them in fifth place.
Player Props:
Quinn Hughes & Cale Makar Point Parlay:
I mentioned these two young stars earlier and how we should see some offensive explosions with these two trying to outperform the other. Let’s start with the Norris trophy favourite as of today.
Quinn Hughes is currently on an eight-game point streak, totalling fourteen points. The Canuck captain has found the score sheet in fifteen of nineteen games this season, with a league-leading 30 points in those games. The American has failed to record a point against the Avalance since his first game against them back in 2019. This streak ends tonight in a statement game for the oldest Hughes brother.
Cale Makar is currently on a seven-game point streak, totalling sixteen points. The Canadian is climbing the rankings quickly and pushing for that Norris trophy, recording three points in three straight games. The Avalanche defenceman hasn’t had trouble getting on the scoresheet against the Canucks, as he has ten points in his six career games against the club.
Nathan MacKinnon Assist:
Nathan MacKinnon hasn’t had the same goal success as we’re used to seeing with only six on the season. Although, this hasn’t stopped him from getting his name on the score sheet, as he’s recorded sixteen assists in seventeen games this season. The Avalanche assistant has assists in six of his last seven games, totalling eleven. The Canadian loves playing Canadian teams, as he has recorded fourteen assists in his last thirteen games against the Canucks.
Honourable Mention:
Mikko Rantanen Goal:
Mikko Rantanen has taken over the nickname “The Canuck Killer” from former Avalanche Milan Hejduk. The Avalanche winger has goals in three straight games and six of his last seven against the Canucks. Coming into tonight’s game, the Finnish forward has five goals in his last seven games. The reason it’s an honourable mention and not a play for me is that the best odds for his goal is -110, and I bring myself to bet a goal scorer with this bad of odds.
Best Bet Summary:
Vancouver Canucks/Colorado Avalanche Game Total Over 6.5 (-123) for 1 Unit.
Quinn Hughes & Cale Makar Point Parlay (+104) for 1 Unit.
Nathan MacKinnon Assist (-145) for 1 Unit.
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Last Game Recap: 0-3 -2.5 Units
We got unlucky last game. Canucks only get three goals and miss out on a chance at an empty net goal from a late Mike Hoffman penalty. Kuzmenko was in all alone and beat Blackwood but not the crossbar. Hronek was on the ice for all three Canuck goals and had two third assists.
All-Time Record: 7-6 +0.23 Units.