Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
In Denver, the Colorado Avalanche will host the New York Rangers. The Rangers have won 9 of their 12 road games, but they will now have to try to stop the hosts, who are currently on a six-game winning streak.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are confidently leading the entire league. Their advantage over the second-placed Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference is four points, and they are three clear of the Eastern Conference leaders, the Carolina Hurricanes. The squad have also played one game fewer than both of those teams. They are winning regularly, both at home (7-0-2) and away (6-1-3). The Avalanche have only one regulation defeat in 19 games. At the moment they have an average power play, ranked 23rd (16.7%), but the second-best penalty kill (88.7%). At the start of November, paper-designated starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood returned to the line-up, but in his absence Scott Wedgewood was so strong (.917 save percentage) that Blackwood still cannot win his place back.
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers also rely heavily on their goaltending (2.48 goals conceded per game), but veteran back-up Jonathan Quick has been particularly impressive (1.42 goals against average). It was not him, though, but Igor Shesterkin who was in goal for their most recent road game against the Vegas Golden Knights. In Las Vegas the team could not hold out and their six-game road winning streak ended (2:3). The goaltender had a good save percentage (.885), but he has to be outstanding when his team manage only 19 shots on target and, when shorthanded, cannot prevent goals against (the Vegas Golden Knights scored on both of their power plays, 2/2).
Colorado Avalanche vs New York Rangers Prediction
Against the Colorado Avalanche side, and with their own weak power play (17.6%), the New York Rangers have little chance of a positive result at altitude in Denver. First they need to find a way to contain Nathan MacKinnon, who has recorded 13 points in his last five games. We are backing the hosts to win.
