Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche will face off for the second time in the last seven days. Their first meeting was last Saturday, resulting in a victory for the Capitals (5:2), courtesy of a brace from Connor McMichael (12+7). Are the Avalanche capable of revenge?
Washington Capitals
For at least the next couple of weeks, the Capitals will have to manage without Alex Ovechkin (15+10). While this is a setback, it's not critical. The line of Connor McMichael, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Tom Wilson has generated 14 goals in 18 games – ranking fourth among all NHL lines that have played together for at least an hour. Additionally, they've called up 20-year-old Ivan Miroshnichenko from the AHL, on whom the Capitals place great hopes. In 16 games for the Hershey Bears, this powerful forward has netted 7 goals and garnered 14 points.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche's injury list is gradually clearing, which is immediately impacting their performance. They have won five of their last seven matches, and in terms of average scoring in November, they rank in the top 10 with 3.23 goals. Mikko Rantanen (12+15) has hit a rich vein of form, almost single-handedly making the difference. The Finnish forward has racked up 10 points in the last 5 games. Rantanen is nearly impossible to contain on the power play, having scored four goals and made six assists – only four players in the NHL have more.
Washington Capitals vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction
Despite the array of attacking talents on both teams, both the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche have surprisingly underperformed in goal. The Avalanche are struggling in this department, and the Capitals' goalkeepers don't rank in the top ten for goals saved above expectation (GSAx). The total over bet has hit in 6 of the Capitals' last 10 games with one push. The chances for a high-scoring game are high once again.
