Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks
Time: 10:00 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: SNP, ALT ESPN+
This game has massive playoff implications as both the Avalanche (31-21-2) and the Canucks (23-18-11) are battling for wild card positioning. This is the second meeting in Vancouver with the Canucks taking the first meeting 3-1 in December. There will be many new faces on both sides of this game tonight. Who will take home the important two-points?
Necas Fitting Right In
In one of the most shocking trades in recent memory, Martin Necas became an Avalanche on January.24. Since then Colorado has a record of 3-2-0. The positive news is Necas seems to be fitting right in recording five points in five games. He has been skating on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon while sliding onto Colorado’s top power play unit. As he gets more familiar with his new team expect both him and the Avs to start having more success.
Another Colorado trade acquisition this season is new starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. He had allowed three or more goals in five straight games before posting back-to-back shutouts in his last two starts against the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers. With his recent success and Scott Wedgwood day-to-day expect Blackwood to face the Canucks.
Canucks Have a New Look
The J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson drama seems to be resolved after Vancouver traded Miller to the New York Rangers. Only time will tell if the Canucks made the right decision, but now the pressure is on Pettersson to preform in Vancouver’s push for the playoffs. He has plenty of new help after the Canucks received four new players in both the Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins deals.
While all these new players have been added the loss of Quinn Hughes is the Canucks biggest concern. He took warmup before becoming a late scratch against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. If he can’t play tonight Marcus Pettersson, who will only be in his second game as a Canuck, will take on a heavier work load against the Avalanche’s top players.
Prediction
The Canucks are seven points behind Colorado with two games in hand so this is one of those “4-point games” where taking two points from your opponent is as important as collecting the two points yourself. With it being such an important game expect Hughes to play, but if he doesn’t that puts Vancouver at a big disadvantage. The Avalanche have plenty of firepower averaging 3.26 goals scored a game. It is unlikely Blackwood gets another shutout but the Canucks well probably need to score at least three goals to win.
Prediction: Avalanche win 4-2
Prop Bets of The Night
Look for Necas to continue making a good impression on his new team tonight. He is +200 to score. His new power play quarterback Cale Makar has 15 points in 10 games against Vancouver. Take him to have 1+ points. The Avalanche on the spread at -1.5 has odds of +186.
Main photo: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Prediction: Feb.4 Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.