No team has scored more goals per game than the Colorado Avalanche.
Cale Makar's elite playmaking is a significant reason for that, and I'm backing him to pick up another assist with my top Avalanche vs. Senators prediction.
Let's take a closer look at my NHL picks for Thursday, Nov. 12.
Avalanche vs Senators prediction: Avalanche moneyline
I’m on the Colorado Avalanche to 54%.
The Avalanche have scored 4.11 goals per game and are a handful for any team to slow down.
The Ottawa Senators are better equipped to do so with Linus Ullmark back in the mix. However, there's likely to be some rust after missing more than three weeks due to injury.
Ottawa ranks 25th in shots per game and 31st in power-play percentage. It’ll be tough for them to keep up with the Avalanche if Ullmark doesn't pick up exactly where he left off, which is a lot to ask in this matchup.
I'm also on the Avalanche as part of my NHL predictions and moneyline picks for tonight.
COVERS INTEL: Makar ranks fifth among all defensemen in on-ice expected goals, meaning the Avalanche are creating a ton of opportunities during his minutes.
Avalanche vs Senators combo
I don’t see a rusty Ullmark neutralizing the high-powered Avalanche, and Cale Makar is a likely candidate to generate offense.
He plays a ton of minutes in all situations while averaging 1.4 assists per game in wins, and we're banking on that ice time.
Jake Sanderson is a target for 2+ shots going the other way. He's averaging 2.8 shots on 5.8 attempts at home, and the Senators will need his offense while trying to keep pace.
Avalanche vs Senators combo
- Avalanche moneyline
- Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
- Jake Sanderson Over 1.5 shots
TOP PICK
Avalanche vs Senators player prop: Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
Makar is in play for an assist to 56%.
He's tied for sixth among defensemen in assists and is averaging exactly one per game through 18 appearances.
Makar has logged a helper in 10 of the 15 games when he didn't face a top-10 team in goal suppression.
Makar’s playmaking is a huge factor on the power play, and the Senators are bottom-10 in both shots and goals against on the penalty kill over the last 10 games.
Avalanche vs Senators goal scorer: Nathan MacKinnon
Playable to 46%.
Nathan MacKinnon leads the league in goals, shots on target, and attempts since the beginning of last season.
He's scored in exactly half of his games this year when excluding top-10 defenses, and his high-volume shooting makes him as likely as anybody to beat Ullmark.
- Top picks: 23-28, -9.7 units
- Combos: 9-41, -9.24 units
Avalanche vs Senators odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Moneyline: Avalanche 51% | Senators 51%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (48%) | Under 6.5 (53%)
- Spread: Avalanche -1.5 (30%) | Senators +1.5 (71%)
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Avalanche vs Senators trend
The Avalanche are 7-1 over the last eight meetings between these teams. Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Avalanche vs Senators
| Location | Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa |
| Date | Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | SN+, ESPN+ |
Avalanche vs Senators latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
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