The Colorado Avalanche (4-5-1) have looked more like pretenders than contenders this season. With an abundance of injuries, it’s been tough to put the full roster on the ice, which is good news for the rest of the league. The Avs have one of the deepest lineups when healthy, but it may take a while to get there.
On Thursday night, Colorado will get a chance to avoid a three-game losing streak as the Vancouver Canucks (5-6-2) come to town. Vancouver is hoping to return to the playoffs after a dismal 2021 season which was completely derailed by COVID-19 down the stretch.
The game airs on ESPN+ and locally on Altitude Sports at 9:00 PM Eastern.
Vancouver Canucks Preview
Vancouver is in seventh in the Pacific Division, three points ahead of the Seattle Kraken, but they’re a better team than their record indicates. Six of their eight losses have been by one goal, and one other became a two-goal loss after an empty-net goal.
The Canucks average 2.62 goals per game but give up 2.69. In a stark contrast from a year ago, Vancouver has been decent on 5-on-5 defensively but can’t get the offense to match. The Achilles heel has been the penalty kill, ranking 31st in the league at 65%.
J.T. Miller (six goals, nine assists) and Bo Horvat (five goals, five assists) are responsible for a large chunk of the scoring, and Conor Garland is the only other skater with ten or more points (three goals, eight assists).
Jaroslav Halak is likely to start Thursday’s game. This season, Halak has an 0-2-1 record, along with a 2.34 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He’s not allowed more than two goals in regulation in any game this season.
Travis Hamonic did not make the trip due to his COVID-19 vaccination status. Teammate Brandon Sutter is recovering from COVID-19, which has sidelined him for a month. Also expected to miss Thursday’s contest are Luke Schenn (undisclosed, put on IR on Wednesday), Matthew Highmore (undisclosed), Tyler Motte (neck), and Brady Keeper (leg).
Colorado Avalanche Preview
Few teams have been hit harder by the injury bug this season than Colorado. As soon as Devon Toews returned to the lineup, Cale Makar went down with an upper-body injury. Makar is expected to return Thursday, but Samuel Girard left practice early, and Nathan MacKinnon is expected to miss three weeks with a lower-body injury.
Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) may also be back, but Stefan Matteau (leg) and Pavel Francouz (ankle are still out).
Colorado is still the betting favorite to win the Central, the Western Conference, and the Stanley Cup, but with all these injuries, they could be in deep trouble if they don’t get healthy soon.
Darcy Kuemper is expected between the pipes on Thursday. Kuemper is sporting a 4-4-0 record this season, along with a 2.89 GAA and a .908 save percentage.
Odds and Pick
Moneyline: Vancouver Canucks (+180) at Colorado Avalanche (-210)
Puck Line: Vancouver Canucks +1.5 goals (-155) at Colorado Avalanche -1.5 goals (+135)
Total: OVER 5.5 goals (-120), UNDER 5.5 goals (+100)
With all the injuries to Colorado, it may be safer to take the Canucks in this one. Vancouver is injured too, but the Avs are missing more star power from the lineup.
Betting Pick: Vancouver Canucks moneyline (+180)