Rangers vs Avalanche Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Colorado Takes Charge in Heavyweight Duel

The Colorado Avalanche welcome the New York Rangers to Ball Arena on Thursday in a showdown between favorites in the Stanley Cup odds.

Colorado is coming off a disappointing 2-1 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, but the Avs are still 28-7 at Ball Arena, and Nathan MacKinnon has registered a point in all 35 home games this season.

New York heads to Denver with a three-game winning streak, and the Rangers were the first team to clinch a postseason berth. Still, the Blueshirts are a road underdog in the NHL odds, and they’re also still missing top-four defensemen Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren.

Here are our free NHL picks and NHL player props for the Rangers vs. Avalanche clash on Thursday, March 28. 

Rangers vs Avalanche odds

Rangers vs Avalanche predictions

The Colorado Avalanche have a unique home-ice advantage because visiting teams often struggle to adjust to the high altitude in Denver. It’s difficult to fully quantify, and it impacts every team and individual player differently. 

Regardless, it's one of the reasons Colorado is even more dangerous on home ice, with the Avalanche boasting a league-high 4.26 goals per game compared to a 3.22 mark on the road. The Avs rank sixth with a 53.8 Corsi For percentage and eighth with a 53.3 xGA at five-on-five on home ice, too. This also sets up as a 5-on-5 mismatch with a New York Rangers squad sporting a 23rd-ranked 47.6 CF% and 47.0 xGF% on the highway. 

I don't think the injury-depleted blueline for New York is fully baked into the number Thursday, either. Journeyman defenseman Erik Gustafsson (upper body) missed Tuesday’s game, and if he is unable to suit up, the Rangers face the highest-scoring team in the league with half their defense corps on the shelf.

The great equalizer for the Rangers has been No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin. He’s 12-3-1 with a league-best .931 SV% and 0.91 GAA average through 16 starts out of the All-Star break. Still, the Vezina Trophy candidate has allowed three or more goals in four of his past five starts.

Shesterkin’s recent struggles no doubt align with the injuries to Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren, and New York will be tested once again by the high-scoring Colorado attack. I expect the Avalanche to push the play and top the Rangers.

My best bet: Avalanche three-way moneyline (+101 at Pinnacle)

Rangers vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Avalanche three-way moneyline

Jonathan Drouin 1+ point

Miles Wood 2+ shots

+375 at bet365

The Avs project to have Jonathan Drouin play with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen on the top line, and they also skate together on the No. 1 power-play unit. As discussed, MacKinnon has been automatic on home ice, and the trio have been on the ice together for a sky-high 6.34 goals per 60 minutes, which is fuelled by a scorching 7.11 mark on home ice.

Turning to Avs winger Miles Wood, his shot volume has gone through the roof since the March 8 trade deadline. He’s recorded 29 shots and 38 attempts through eight games, and I consider it sustainable because he’s properly positioned in a bottom-six role. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Rangers vs Avalanche moneyline and Over/Under analysis

• There has been back-and-forth betting action on this moneyline, with bet365 moving the opening Colorado -160 to -150 multiple times. The number is back to Colorado -150 as of Thursday at noon.
• The total is a consensus 6.5, and the Under is saddled with the higher vig. 
• As long as Shesterkin and Colorado No. 1 Alexandar Georgiev start as expected, I’m not anticipating any significant adjustments to the moneyline or total leading into puck drop.

Rangers vs Avalanche betting trend to know

Colorado has won 19 of its last 22 games at Ball Arena. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Avalanche.

Rangers vs Avalanche game info

Rangers vs Avalanche latest injuries

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