Ottawa Senators (11-15-0) vs. Colorado Avalanche (19-10-2)
Ottawa Senators vs. Colorado Avalanche 12/21/23 – Attracting top attention among top NHL matches and analysis, Ottawa Senators with their disappointing 11-15-0 record face off with Colorado Avalanche who boast an impressive 19-10-2 mark on Thursday December 21, 2023 in Ball Arena for this regular season game slated to air live at 9:00PM ET on ESPN+ – sure to provide fans with an exciting, high-energy contest between these teams!
The Ottawa Senators’ offense, while often inconsistent, has shown flashes of brilliance. Center Tim Stutzle leads their pointscoring with 6 goals and 23 assists, providing on-ice vision that could prove pivotal in defeating Colorado Avalanche defense. Right Wingers Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson add depth with 25 and 23 respectively – however their game must increase significantly to penetrate Colorado’s strong defensive lineup; their recent play only yielded one victory out of 5 games played recently suggests this will require adjustments so as to maximize scoring chances and improve scoring opportunities.
At the other end of the ice is where Avalanche offense stands out: led by Nathan MacKinnon with 47 points including 14 goals, Mikko Rantanen has 39 and their versatile offense will present challenges for Senators defense; especially with Cale Makar contributing 37 points from defense alone! Furthermore, their success over recent games, with three wins out of five games played being evidenced by their ability to find back of net. This poses significant problems to their efforts of containment against such high-powered play from Avalanche offence!
Ottawa Senators vs. Colorado Avalanche Game Info
| When: | Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Ball Arena |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo vs. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev
Joonas Korpisalo of the Ottawa Senators stands out in this goaltending battle as an intriguing case study. With an 0.892 save percentage this season and an unfavorable goals-against average of 3.5 against, his weakness may be exploited by Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen; thus resilience and adaptability become key attributes to keep Senators alive while perhaps even pulling off an upset win.
Alexandar Georgiev of the Colorado Avalanche offers more steady performance. Boasting an improved save percentage (0.898) and goals-against average of 2.96, Georgiev has proved himself as an established presence between the pipes. He has displayed the ability to come through with key saves under pressure – an ability that will prove essential against top forwards such as Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux from Ottawa. Georgiev will play an instrumental role for the Avalanche this game. Not only is his presence critical for maintaining their defensive resilience but he can also instil confidence among their offense by reading games well and anticipating shots under high-pressure situations, something which will determine both their defensive strategy and success in this matchup.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD
Current betting odds for the game have yet to be set; however, given Colorado Avalanche’s strong record and home advantage they should likely be considered favorites by bettors when considering odds evaluation. When doing so they should keep strong offensive play as well as consistent goaltending into account as this should determine their final prediction of winner or loser.
Ottawa Senators Betting Trends
The Ottawa Senators have had difficulty maintaining consistency as evidenced by their three wins out of five (1-3 record), however their slightly better spread record (5-4) suggests they could still compete competitively on the road. Bettors should proceed cautiously due to these unpredictable teams’ inconsistent play.
Colorado Avalanche Betting Trends
The Avalanche have shown greater consistency recently with their record and results against the spread: three wins out of five matches at home combined with an identical trend away (5-10 road record doesn’t play into their play here). They have performed better when facing road opponents (5-10) than at home (8-7 home record).
Ottawa Senators vs. Colorado Avalanche 12/21/23 Betting Picks
At present, while both teams have displayed some potential, Colorado Avalanche have proven more dependable due to their overall performance this season and home advantage. If the Senators want any chance at success they need to dramatically upgrade both defense and goaltending for any hope to exist.
Betttors looking for an easier bet could choose Avalanche due to their strong offensive lineup and goaltending, prop bets on individual player performances such as MacKinnon or Rantanen’s scoring could prove particularly interesting while considering both teams recent trends, an anticipated high scoring match could occur.
This prediction aligns with elite predictions today, suggesting that while the Senators may put up a fight, Colorado Avalanche’s superior offense and home advantage are more likely to bring them victory.
Free Pick and Prediction: Colorado Avalanche 4, Ottawa Senators 2.