The Seattle Kraken have won three of their four regular-season visits to Denver, and return tonight to face the slumping Colorado Avalanche
We have an action-packed 11-game schedule in front of us, with a slew of skaters and teams looking to extend lengthy streaks and reach milestones.
The most intriguing game for me takes place in Denver, where the Colorado Avalanche hope to end a three-game losing skid when they welcome the equally struggling Seattle Kraken to town.
Let's do a deep dive into this Western Conference showdown.
WHY KRAKEN: Seattle is also mired in a three-game skid, after losses in Toronto, Ottawa and Boston. Revenge will be on the brain for the Kraken, who lost to the Avs in Seattle on Oct. 22, a close 3-2 decision. Interestingly, if there is one place the Kraken could snap their skid, it would be Denver, where they've won three of four regular-season meetings since entering the league.
WHY AVALANCHE: Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon both carry 12-game season-opening point streaks into tonight’s contest, an impressive feat that should bolster the offense at home while looking to end the slide. Both Makar and MacKinnon have to be tired of the new kid on the block coming into their arena and stealing victories, so it wouldn't shock me to see multi-point games from both.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
THE PICK - AVALANCHE -1.5 goals +135: The Kraken are going to be a tired bunch in playing its fifth road game in eight days after stops in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Boston. It would be one thing if this game was in the eastern time zone, considering that's where this current tour started, but you add in a travel day to the Rockies, and skating in high altitude for their fifth in eight, and I have to believe the Avalanche are going to explode for a much-needed win. Lay the puck line with confidence here.
(Season Record: 1-2-0, Net: -$135, based on $100 units)