- What: Colorado Avalanche vs Ottawa Senators
- When: Tuesday, January 16th
- Where: Canadian Tire Centre
The surging Colorado Avalanche are in action for the second straight night on Tuesday as they head to the capital to face the Ottawa Senators. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 PM EST at the Canadian Tire Centre. Colorado did drop Monday's contest to the Montreal Canadiens by a slim score of 4-3 in their first game without Valeri Nichushkin after he went back into the Player Assistance Program. As for Ottawa, they've had a couple of days off but did beat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 on Saturday which ended a five-game losing skid. Below, we'll lay out the Avalanche vs Senators picks.
Before we get into the odds and preview, make sure to check out our online sportsbook reviews, and the top NHL betting sites.
Avalanche vs Senators Odds
The Avs are of course the favorite here at -125 moneyline odds for an implied win probability of 55.56%. The Sens come back at +111 and have a 47.39% chance of taking this one. The total in goals is set relatively high at seven. Colorado has dominated Ottawa in recent memory, winning three in a row and six of the last seven.
Avalanche Having a Nice Season
Colorado won the Stanley Cup a couple of seasons ago but flamed out in the playoffs last year in the first round. Nevertheless, the Avs have come back in 2023-24 and look to be a legitimate contender. They're one of the best teams in the Western Conference with a 28-13-3 record and also second in the Central Division behind only the Winnipeg Jets. Leading the way for Colorado is Nathan MacKinnon, who is in the running for the Hart Trophy alongside Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.
Mackinnon is enjoying a massive campaign, scoring 23 goals and tallying 46 assists. His 69 points are second in the NHL behind only Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. On a nightly basis, MacKinnon produces the goods for the Avs. But, there's a plethora of guys on this roster who are getting the job done. Mikko Rantanen also has 55 points, while defenceman Cale Makar has registered 48 points (9 goals, 39 assists). The big loss for Colorado right now however is Valeri Nichushkin, who was in the midst of a career year with 42 points in 40 games. The Russian was a healthy scratch on Saturday and as of Monday, he's back in the Player Assistance Program. It's unknown why, but it means Nichushkin is out indefinitely. That's not great for the Avs.
Jared Bednar's group is 7-2-1 in their last 10 contests and has won three straight before the loss to the Habs on Monday. This was a back-and-forth contest but Montreal got the last laugh late in the third period thanks to Joel Armia. For the Avs, Makar was the star of the show with one goal and two assists. Devon Toews and Ross Colton also found the back of the net.
Sens Struggling
Nothing new, is it? The Senators haven't been good for a while and that's continued. They're at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 15-23-0 record and the playoffs are far from a reality. Ottawa's problem isn't scoring the puck. This team is ninth in goals scored with 3.32 per night but defensively, the Sens are a nightmare, allowing 3.68 per contest, which ranks 30th in the NHL.
Winger Tim Stutzle is the main man offensively, tallying 38 points including seven goals and 31 assists. Veteran Claude Giroux is also having a nice season, scoring 13 and setting up another 22. There are four different players with at least 30 points and eight who have put up a minimum of 20 points. The blue line just really needs to figure it out.
Ottawa isn't playing the best hockey lately but did grab a victory on Saturday against the lowly Sharks. It was a thrilling finish too, with Vladimir Tarasenko scoring the winner with only seconds remaining in the third period. Tarasenko, Brady Tkachuk, and Drake Batherson all had two points each in the win.
Avalanche vs Senators Picks
Colorado's track record against the Senators says it all. Even without Nichushkin, the Avs should comfortably take care of Ottawa. Take the moneyline for this one on Tuesday evening.
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