Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche NHL Picks & Predictions 12/29/2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NHL hockey odds on this game.

The Chicago Blackhawks travel to Pepsi Center to play the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The opening line for this game has the Blackhawks at +218 and the Avalanche at -245.

Chicago has a record of 14-20-6 this season. They are 7th in the Central Division. They have scored 116 goals and given up 147 goals for a point differential of -31. For the season they have an ATS record of 14-26-0 and an over/under record of 23-15-0. Colorado has a record of 19-13-6 this year. They are 3rd in the Central Division. They've scored 130 goals and surrendered 117 for a goal differential of +13. Their record against the spread is 19-19-0 while their over/under record is 20-18-0.

Valuable Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends

The Chicago Blackhawks are 14-26-0 straight up this year

The Chicago Blackhawks are 23-15-0 against the over/under this season

Important Colorado Avalanche Betting Trends

The Colorado Avalanche are 19-19-0 straight up this year

The Colorado Avalanche are 20-18-0 against the over/under this season

Key Chicago Blackhawks Injuries

12/18/18 GO Corey Crawford Concussion IR (12/18)
12/12/18 C Artem Anisimov Concussion IR (12/09)
12/08/18 D Gustav Forsling Shoulder IR (12/08)
11/16/18 D Brandon Davidson Leg is out indefinitely

Key Colorado Avalanche Injuries

12/27/18 D Nikita Zadorov Lower Body is questionable Saturday vs Chicago
12/22/18 C Colin Wilson Shoulder is out indefinitely
12/11/18 C Vladislav Kamenev Shoulder is out indefinitely
10/04/18 D Conor Timmins Concussion is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Cam Ward has 6 wins and 6 losses this season in net for the Blackhawks. He has 555 shots against him and he's given up 63 goals. He's made 492 saves for a save percentage of 89%. Patrick Kane has accumulated 47 total points this season for the Blackhawks. He has 20 goals this year with 155 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 13%. He has a total of 27 assists on the season and averages 21.8 minutes played per game. Jonathan Toews averages 20.3 minutes of ice time per game this year. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 16% by scoring 16 goals on 99 shots. He has 18 assists, giving him a total of 34 points on the season.

Player Spotlight

Mikko Rantanen has scored 60 total points this year for the Avalanche. He has 16 goals this season with 97 shots on goal, giving him a shooting percentage of 17%. He has a total of 44 assists on the season and averages 21 minutes played per game. Semyon Varlamov has 11 wins and 8 losses this year in goal for the Avalanche. He has 704 shots against him and he's surrendered 61 goals. He's made 643 saves for a save percentage of 91%. Nathan MacKinnon averages 22 minutes of ice time per game. In that time he has a shooting percentage of 13% by scoring 22 goals on 170 shots. He has 35 assists, giving him a total of 57 points on the season.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blackhawks have allowed 117 power play opportunities and have given up 30 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 74% this year. That is 29th in the NHL. They average 31 shots per game and as a team shoot 9.24% for the season. They allow 34 shots to their opposition per contest and have a team save percentage of 89%, which is ranked 28th in the league. The Blackhawks have 34 total points this season, ranking 28th in the NHL in offense. They are 13th in the league with 116 goals while they've given up 147 goals, which is 1st overall. They have had 119 power play opportunities and scored 17 goals on those chances for a percentage of 14%. That is 27th in the NHL.

Useful Team Statistics

As a team, the Avalanche are 5th with 130 goals scored while they are 10th in the NHL with 117 goals allowed this year. They average 32 shots per contest and have a team shooting percentage of 10.77%. They give up 32 shots per game and have a save percentage of 91%, putting them in 13th place in the league. The Avalanche have a total of 44 points this year, which is 13th in the NHL. They have 37 power play goals on 136 opportunities for a percentage of 27%. That ranks their power play unit 4th. They've allowed 136 power play opportunities and have given up 29 goals on those chances for a penalty kill percentage of 79%, which is 18th overall.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 19th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 49.3%, as they've attempted 2,316 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,379 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage is 47.7% as they have 1,695 attempts while they have given up 1,862 shots on the defensive end. That ranks them 24th in the league. The Blackhawks start possessions in the offensive zone 51.7% of the time, which is 11th in the league, while their defensive zone percentage is at 48.3% for the season. That is 21st overall in the NHL. They have 1,155 face-off wins compared to 1,156 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 50%. That ranks them 18th in the league. On defense Chicago has 629 hits and they have blocked 517 shots from the opposition, putting them 21st overall.

Advanced Statistics

The Avalanche are 9th in the league in starting possessions in the offensive zone, doing so 52.9% of the time. Their defensive zone percentage is at 47.1% for the season, which is 23rd in the NHL. They have 1,118 face-off wins compared to 1,216 losses, meaning their face-off win percentage is 47.9%. That is 26th in the league. On defense Colorado has 726 hits and they have blocked 600 shots from the opposition, which is 3rd in the league. Colorado is 24th in the NHL in Corsi percentage with 48.2% as they've attempted 2,123 shots on net at full strength while they've given up 2,281 shots on net in the same situations. Their Fenwick percentage of 48.7% ranks 22nd as they have 1,597 attempts while they have given up 1,681 shots on the defensive end.

Who will win tonight's Blackhawks/Avalanche NHL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Chicago +218

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