Avalanche vs Utah Prediction & Odds for Friday Night time Hockey (Dec. 27)

• The Colorado Avalanche go to the Utah Hockey Membership in a Central Division showdown on Friday evening
• We’ve made our Avalanche vs Utah prediction for Friday, December 27, 2024
• Take a look at our Avalanche vs Utah prediction and odds for tonight’s ESPN2 matchup

The Colorado Avalanche (21-15-0) head to Salt Lake Metropolis to battle the Utah Hockey Membership (16-12-6) in a Central Division conflict on Friday, December 27, 2024. Puck drop is slated for 9:30 PM Jap Time at Delta Heart, with tv protection accessible on ESPN2.

The Avalanche enter as highway favorites at -140, whereas the over/below is listed at 6.5 objectives. Can the surging Avs proceed their sturdy play and earn a key divisional win? Let’s take a more in-depth look.

Right here is our Avalanche vs Utah prediction for Friday evening.

Avalanche vs Utah Prediction

I’m backing the Avalanche to get it completed on the highway. Colorado has received three straight total and seems to be hitting their stride. The Avs’ depth and expertise provides them the sting on this matchup.

Nathan MacKinnon paces the Avalanche assault with 57 factors (14 objectives, 43 assists), whereas Mikko Rantanen has potted a team-high 19 objectives. Valeri Nichushkin has additionally contributed with eight objectives in his final 10 video games.

Valeri Nichushkin with the facility transfer! 💪 pic.twitter.com/FICMcsSFLd

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 11, 2024

Colorado’s offense, rating sixth within the NHL at 3.3 objectives per recreation, attracts a good matchup towards a struggling Utah protection permitting 2.85 objectives towards on common. The Hockey Membership has significantly scuffled at residence, going simply 5-6-4 at Delta Heart.

Between the pipes, the Avalanche maintain the benefit. The tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood (9-10-3, 2.83 GAA, .914 SV%) and Scott Wedgewood has rounded into kind currently. Blackwood is 3-1-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .931 SV% since being acquired.

5 extra years in burgundy and blue for Mackenzie Blackwood!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/IlhB9qgRpq

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 27, 2024

In the meantime, the Hockey Membership faces query marks in web with Karel Vejmelka (8-8-2, 2.33 GAA, .917 SV%) shouldering a heavy workload. Backup Connor Ingram has struggled to a 3.61 GAA and .871 SV%.

On the backend, the Avalanche’s prime pair of Cale Makar (45 factors) and Devon Toews matches up effectively towards Utah’s prime scorers like Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther. As a group, Colorado ranks eleventh in anticipated objectives towards per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Whereas the Hockey Membership has some harmful offensive weapons in Keller (36 factors), Guenther (32 factors) and Logan Cooley (30 factors), the Avalanche are the decide right here. Colorado is deeper, has higher goaltending, and has dominated the head-to-head sequence currently (6-3 in final 9). Take the Avs on the moneyline.

Friday NHL Decide:

• Avalanche Moneyline (-140)

Avalanche vs Utah Odds

The Avalanche are strong -140 moneyline highway favorites, that means a $140 wager would revenue $100 in the event that they win. The Hockey Membership are +118 residence underdogs – a $100 wager would return $118 in the event that they pull the upset.

Colorado is +175 to cowl -1.5 objectives, whereas Utah is favored to remain inside that margin at -210. Primarily based on the juice, oddsmakers predict a detailed recreation that the Avalanche win by 1-2 objectives.

The entire is ready at 6.5 objectives, with even -110 odds on either side. With two top-10 offenses and a few query marks in web for Utah, bookmakers envision a higher-scoring affair. The over has hit in 4 of the final 5 conferences in Salt Lake Metropolis/ Arizona.

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of December 27, 2024. Evaluate the newest NHL betting odds for Avalanche vs Utah.

COL-UTA H2H Historical past

The Avalanche have had the higher hand within the all-time sequence towards Uta/Arizona, going 6-3-0. Colorado has received six of the final 9 conferences total, however Utah did prevail 4-1 in the newest matchup on December 12.

Current Outcomes

The Avalanche are taking part in a few of their finest hockey of the season proper now, winners of three straight. The offense has come alive currently, too, scoring 4+ objectives in every of these victories. Don’t count on their earlier 4-1 loss to Utah to faze a surging Colorado squad although.

Utah has competed admirably currently, going 6-2-2 over their final 10 video games. They’ve overachieved a bit primarily based on underlying metrics, nonetheless, because the Hockey Membership ranks bottom-10 in anticipated objectives for (xGF), high-danger possibilities for (HDCF), and scoring possibilities for (SCF) at 5v5. With out a full complement of confirmed NHL goalies, these flaws may get uncovered.