The NHL returns on Thursday, January 26, with a nine-game slate, and here you can read the best Ducks vs. Avalanche betting pick and odds.

Colorado is searching for the seventh consecutive victory when they host Anaheim at Ball Arena. The Avalanche are -380 moneyline favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. These conference rivals will meet for the first time this season.

Ducks beat Arizona on the road

The Anaheim Ducks (14-29-3-2, 20-28 ATS) are currently on a six-game road trip and will conclude it with a tilt against Colorado on Thursday. After losing the opening two of that trip, the Ducks won two of the previous three, including the latest one over the Arizona Coyotes. That win helped them to escape the rock bottom of the Western Conference and now the Ducks have 33 points but are way outside of the playoff picture.

Anaheim got to a 4-0 lead early in the third period in Arizona, and although the hosts managed to answer with a pair of quick goals, Adam Henrique sealed the deal for the Ducks with an empty-netter. Cam Fowler was the first star of the game with a pair of goals and three points, while Troy Terry also contributed three points. This year, Terry (G 13, A 28) and Trevor Zegras (G 17, A 24) lead the Ducks in points with 41 apiece.

John Gibson (8-20-4) will probably start at the goal against Colorado on Thursday. The 29-year-old is surrendering 4.11 goals per game this season with a .895 and one shutout.

C Derek Grant (lower body), LW Justin Kirkland (undisclosed), C Isac Lundestrom (finger), and D Jamie Drysdale (shoulder) are out indefinitely. D John Klingberg (illness) is questionable to feature on Thursday against Colorado.

Avalanche are going up

The Colorado Avalanche (26-17-1-2, 22-24) are playing their best hockey of the season as they are on a six-game winning streak. The Avalanche returned to Denver from a three-game road trip on which they defeated the Flames, Canucks, and Kraken, and then beat the Washington Capitals 3-2. Now, the reigning Stanley Cup champions are in the 7th position in the Western Conference with 55 points, ten behind the conference leaders Dallas Stars.

Colorado attempted only 26 shots opposite Washington’s 39, but Alexandar Georgiyev was excellent in the cage and stopped 37 shots to help his team win. Andrew Cogliano, Artturi Lehkonen, and Alex Newhook scored goals for the Avs, while Logan O’Connor chipped in a pair of assists. So far this year, Mikko Rantanen is the most productive Colorado player with 58 points (G 32, A 26), followed by Nathan MacKinnon (G 13, A 39) and Cale Makar (G 13, A 30), who have 52 and 43, respectively.

Alexandar Georgiyev is slated to start between the sticks against Anaheim on Thursday. The 26-year-old is allowing 2.62 goals per game this season with a .919 SV% and two shutouts.

LW Darren Helm (lower body), LW Gabriel Landeskog (lower body), D Josh Manson (lower body), RW Denis Malgin (upper body), and D Bowen Byram (lower body) are out indefinitely. D Cale Makar (upper body) is questionable to play on Thursday against the Ducks.

The Avs re-acquired their former forward Matt Nieto from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Jacob MacDonald. Both teams also traded some prospects.

Trends:

Anaheim:

  • 2-8 in the last ten after scoring five goals or more in their previous game
  • 13-39 in the last 52 road games

Colorado:

  • 4-0 in the last four games playing on one day of rest
  • 6-0 in the last six games

Anaheim Ducks vs. Colorado Avalanche Pick

Although the Avalanche’s offense is not as lethal as it was last season when they won the title, they are slowly improving offensively, but are also playing way better on defense than a few weeks ago. Colorado didn’t allow more than three goals in each of the previous seven games and kept the opponents to just one or none in four over that span. Anaheim has the second-worst offense in the NHL that averages 2.40 goals per game, and that’s why I expect the hosts to get a comfortable victory on Thursday.

Pick: Take the Avalanche at -1.5 Puck Line (-145)

The Total

Not only that the Ducks are not a high-scoring team and are struggling on offense, but the Avalanche are among the top 10 in the league when it comes to defense. Colorado allows 2.70 goals per contest and only seven teams have better defenses at the moment. While I am pretty sure Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and co. are going to produce at least three or four goals against Anaheim, I doubt the Ducks’ offense will contribute enough to make a high-scoring affair out of this tilt. Under is 3-1-1 in the last five H2H meetings; Under is 23-9-2 in the Avalanche’s previous 34 overall, while Under is 5-0-1 in Colorado’s last six vs. Pacific Division rivals.

Pick: Go Under 6.5 goals (-110)