Welcome back to NHL Predictions! Tonight, the San Jose Sharks take on the team that they just made a trade with, the Colorado Avalanche. Today, like every day, Last Word on Hockey looks at the games happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in. As the NHL’s holiday freeze closes in, teams are itching to play some good hockey before the break. Let’s look at two of these teams, as the Sharks face off against the Avalanche. Finally, be sure to check out more predictions for all the NHL’s games throughout the 2024-25 season.
NHL Predictions
Colorado Avalanche at San Jose Sharks
Time: 10:30 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time)
TV: ALT, NBCSCA, ESPN+
The Story of the First Matchup
Like Tuesday’s game against the Jets, the Sharks were in the midst of their season-opening nine-game losing streak when Colorado came to town. The Avs came out victorious, but the game was more competitive than San Jose’s record indicated. Ross Colton scored twice and William Eklund scored once in the first period, making it a 2-1 game. It was scoreless in the second, and Colorado netted two in the latter half of the third period to secure the win. Again, however, the Sharks played well and even out-shot the Avalanche in the game. Since then, both teams look a little different.
Sharks Finding Difficulty Closing Out Games
The Sharks’ previous two contests – Saturday against Utah and Tuesday against Winnipeg – both finished with a 4-3 Sharks loss. In both, San Jose surrendered a late goal in the final few minutes, breaking a 3-3 tie. The team is aiming to flip the script and close out a win against the Avs. Despite these results, the club has some positivity it can take into the coming contests. Namely, the play of Macklin Celebrini has stood out. He has seven points in the last five games, 22 on the year and is officially the engine that makes this team run. Additionally, Tyler Toffoli has found the net three times over the last five, including one on Tuesday. Mikael Granlund continues to lead the team in points with 32.
However, the biggest stories of this game are players going against their former teams. These two clubs completed a trade under two weeks ago and this is their first matchup since. Nikolai Kovalenko has found his stride since coming to the Sharks. He has five points, all assists, in just four games in Teal. Alexandar Georgiev was the other player San Jose acquired. He’s played better than his stats suggest due to the low volume of shots he’s faced. In two starts, Georgiev has seen just 53 shots and surrendered seven goals, good enough to earn one win. The team may elect to have him face his former club and start back-to-back contests.
Avalanche Need Wins to Keep Pace in Western Conference
After falling to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, the Avalanche face an important stretch before the break. After this game against San Jose, the team plays Anaheim and Seattle, looking to stay in a wild card position. To do this, Colorado will lean on their big guns who’ve led them throughout the year. Nathan MacKinnon is the first player to reach 50 points in the NHL. His lineman, Mikko Rantanen, is right behind him atop the league lead. He has 18 goals and 47 points. Defenceman Cale Makar continues to be one of the better blueliners in the league. In 33 games, he leads all defensemen with 38 points. San Jose will have their hands full trying to contain these three players.
In his two games since being acquired, former Shark Mackenzie Blackwood has been dynamite. He’s logged a .937 SV% and surrendered just two goals in both starts, one being a win. Blackwood is giving Colorado some much-needed consistency in net and should be the one between the pipes against his old team.
Prediction
Colorado is one of the most talented teams in the NHL and will likely be able to generate offence against the Sharks. Additionally, Blackwood should be fired up to play in his old building. San Jose may get some good goaltending as well, this has the makings of a decisive Colorado victory.
Prediction: Colorado wins 5-2
The Avalanche’s odds to cover -1.5 are just -105, and we like that to hit. Given his great play, we like Celebrini at +200 to find the back of the net for San Jose and Artturi Lehkonen at +185 for Colorado.
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Main Photo: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 19 San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.