Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to the mountainous state of the Utah Hockey Club was meant to provide an additional advantage for the franchise. The altitude is unfamiliar to most teams, yet the Utah Hockey Club themselves currently hold a negative home record. The Colorado Avalanche certainly won't be fazed by it.
Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club have compiled a home record of 5-6-4, largely based on their last eight outings, where they've managed just one win—an overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks (3:2). In the remaining games, they suffered three overtime losses and four straight defeats. Even Clayton Keller's scoring efforts, bringing 10 points in the last five matches, haven't sufficed: despite a 2+2 performance from the captain in their home game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Utah Hockey Club still lost (4:5 OT).
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are confidently progressing towards the playoffs with a 7-3-0 record and are securing wins both at home and away, currently sitting third in their division. In six of these 10 matches, the Avalanche have scored four or more goals. Setting the pace are Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar—together amassing 44 goals this season, which accounts for 36% of the team’s tally, along with an impressive 110 assists.
Utah Hockey Club vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction
Stopping this trio and those who capitalise on their setups is a formidable challenge for the Utah Hockey Club, who appear to play as if they're not on home ice. Should Mackenzie Blackwood guard the net for the Colorado Avalanche, yielding just 2.03 goals over four games, which is likely, one should expect nothing less than a victory for the visitors.
