One of 12 NHL games scheduled for Tuesday, December 27, will be played between the divisional rivals in Arizona, so make sure you don’t miss out on the best Avalanche vs. Coyotes betting pick and odds.

Colorado is searching for the fifth consecutive win when they visit Arizona at Mullett Arena. The Avalanche are firm -250 moneyline favorites on BetOnline Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6 goals. These Central Division foes met four times last year, and that series was tied at 2-2.

Avalanche keep on pushing in MacKinnon’s absence

The Colorado Avalanche (19-11-1-1, 16-16 ATS) went through a rough period of four straight losses when they lost their best player Nathan MacKinnon to an injury, but they got used to it and answered with six wins in the following six games. At the moment, the Avalanche are on a four-game winning streak and have a chance to record the fifth straight victory for the first time this season. After winning four of their five-game homestay, the Avs edged the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime on the road.

Colorado was 2-0 down midway through the second period but scored a pair of goals as Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher forced overtime. Samuel Girard bagged a winner for the reigning champions who had 46 shots opposite Nashville’s 39. Rantanen had to step up in MacKinnon’s absence and he’s currently in the top 10 in the NHL when it comes to points with 42 (G 23, A 19). MacKinnon has 34 (G 8, A 26) and Cale Makar chipped in 29 (G 7, A 22).

Alexandar Georgiev (15-6-2) is likely going to bet on the goal against Arizona on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is allowing 2.36 goals per game this year with a .925 SV% and two shutouts.

Alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado is without LW Darren Helm (hip), LW Gabriel Landeskog (lower body), and D Bowen Byram (lower body). LW Andrew Cogliano (shoulder) and LW Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) are questionable to play against the Coyotes on Tuesday.

Coyotes snapped a losing run

The Arizona Coyotes (11-16-3-2, 19-13 ATS) managed to avoid the fourth defeat in a row with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings at home. It was a solid defensive performance from the team that failed to keep the opponents below three goals for 13 consecutive games. Prior to this win over LA, the Coyotes conceded 13 goals in three consecutive losses.

Nick Schmaltz opened the scoring for the hosts with a power-play goal in the first period, but the visitors answered through Alex Iafallo in the second. The game went to overtime and then to the shootout where Nick Bjugstad scored the only goal to get a win for the Coyotes. This season, Clayton Keller is the only Coyote in the top 120 in the NHL with 31 points (G 12, A 19).

Karel Vejmelka (10-9-4) is a probable goalie for Arizona against Colorado on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is conceding 3.09 goals per contest this year with a .910 SV% and two shutouts.

LW Andrew Ladd (knee) is out indefinitely and will not feature on Tuesday against the Avs. LW Matias Maccelli (lower body) is questionable.

Trends:

Colorado:

  • 16-5 in the last 21 vs. Central Division rivals
  • 22-5 in the last 27 games playing on three or more days of rest
  • 9-1 in the last ten Tuesday games

Arizona:

  • 5-14 in the last 19 games
  • 1-11 in the last 12 games against the Western Conference opponents

Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes Pick

The Avalanche are not the same offensive force they were last year when they won the Stanley Cup, but they managed to replace that sharpness with sturdiness at the back. Colorado has the fifth-best defense in the NHL that allows 2.59 goals per game opposite Arizona’s D that conceded 3.59 gpg. The Avs allowed more than two goals just once in their previous eight games which is astonishing, and given how Arizona is finding it hard to score this year, I am backing the visitors to display another strong defensive performance here. Each of the Avalanche’s last three games was decided in overtime or shootout, and this time around, I think they will get an easier win.

Pick: Take the Avalanche at -1.5 Puck Line (+105)

The Total

Colorado surrendered four goals in the last four games, and I’d be deeply surprised if Arizona manages to score more than two on Tuesday. The Avalanche’s offense is not working and that’s clear, so I don’t expect to see a high-scoring affair here. If Arizona played against another opponent, I’d likely go with a high-scoring tilt, but Colorado is a key in this one. Under is 21-6-1 in the Avalanche’s last 28 overall; Under is 7-2-1 in Colorado’s previous ten road games, while Under is 7-0 in the Avalanche’s last seven vs. Central Division rivals.

Pick: Go Under 6 goals (-110)