The Washington Capitals are starting to see the effects of not having a healthy roster, entering this game on a three-game losing streak.
The Colorado Avalanche come into this contest having won five out of their last six games and while there was a ton of concern about their goaltending coming into the season, Alexandar Georgiev and Pavel Francouz have both looked great thus far.
This is going to be a very difficult game for the Capitals, but Darcy Kuemper will have some extra motivation in the blue paint as he is playing against his former team for the first time. That being said, I’m not sure if I believe in Kuemper to steal the game.
Check out my free NHL picks and predictions for the Avalanche vs. Capitals.
Avalanche vs Capitals best odds
Avalanche vs Capitals picks and predictions
One of the truest narratives in the NHL is the saying that good teams find a way to win, and that is exactly what the Avalanche did in their most recent game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Avs were outshot 48-15, but thanks to an incredible performance from Pavel Francouz, they found a way to steal a very big game on the road.
The Capitals’ goaltending has not been all that strong as of late, as the team has allowed 15 goals in the last three games. Darcy Kuemper doesn’t have the best record right now, at 5-8-1 in his first season with the Capitals, but his numbers haven’t been as poor as his record. He boasts a .911 SV% and a 2.73 GAA, but by no means is he considered an elite goaltender.
The Capitals’ defensive issues are the biggest concern coming into this game against the Avalanche, who score the sixth most goals per game (3.53) and have the best power play (36.7%) while also generating the second most high-danger chances per game (12.55).
It’s hard to put blame on the Capitals right now because they have so many important players out of the lineup due to injury but this is a great chance for the Avalanche to completely control the game and put some pucks in on an old friend in Kuemper.
My best bet: Avalanche moneyline (-145 at BetMGM)
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Avalanche vs Capitals moneyline analysis
The Avalanche haven’t had a ton of success in the nation’s capital in years past, but this season has a whole different feel to it for Washington. One area that it is really struggling with right now is its power play. The Caps have only scored one power-play goal in their last five games on a total of 24 attempts.
If you want to beat the offensively talented Avalanche, you need your power play to produce. Not having T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom has been a huge loss for the Capitals’ man-advantage unit.
The Avalanche may have struggled in their most recent game, but they found a way to grind it out and get the win. They have a bit of a different look this year, but the offense is still producing relatively consistently, and they have a lot of momentum going into this game. Colorado has been the better team on both ends of the ice, it should keep its positive vibes going in this game.
Avalanche vs Capitals Over/Under analysis
This total is going to be a bit more interesting. The goaltending battle isn’t necessarily one that stands out, but the Avalanche have done a fantastic job at keeping pucks out of their own net, and for the Capitals, you have to think Kuemper puts on a strong performance against his old team.
The Avalanche can flat-out score goals, but they haven’t necessarily been lights out in their last two games. The Capitals aren’t as much of a threat offensively as we are used to seeing in years past, as they are averaging 2.89 goals per game with a 46.85% expected goals.
On paper, these are two of the most offensively explosive rosters in the NHL with players like Nathan McKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen for the Avalanche and Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Kuznetsov for the Capitals.
That being said, this game is going to have a little extra emotion, which plays into the Under. I think Kuemper will be a little fired up and that this game will go Under.
Avalanche vs Capitals betting trend to know
The Colorado Avalanche have won five out of their last six games. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs Capitals.
Avalanche vs Capitals game info
| Location: | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC |
| Date: | Saturday, November 19, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NBCS Washington, Altitude Sports |
