The Florida Panthers (18-19-4) face the Colorado Avalanche (20-15-3) Tuesday at Ball Arena in Denver. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (ESPN+).
The Panthers were tripped up 5-1 last time out in Dallas on Sunday in the 2nd game of the current 4-game road trip. The Florida offense has been very sporadic lately, going for 3 or more goals in 4 of the last 6 games, while posting 1 or no goals in the other 2 outings.
The Avalanche posted a 3-2 overtime win Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers on the road, snapping an 0-4-1 skid for the defending champs. Rest should do the Avs some good, as Colorado is 14-3 in the past 17 games when playing on 2 days of rest.
Panthers at Avalanche odds
- Moneyline (ML): Panthers +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Avalanche -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-220) | Avalanche -1.5 (+160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Panthers at Avalanche projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (9-12-1, 3.26 GAA, .895 SV%, 1 SO) vs Alexandar Georgiev (16-10-3, 2.67 GAA, .916 SV%, 2 SO)
Bobrovsky allowed just 2 goals on 31 shots last time out in Detroit on Friday, picking up a rare road win. Bob is 4-8-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .887 SV% in 12 road starts this season, as opposed to a 5-4-1 record, 2.93 GAA and .905 SV% at home.
Georgiev allowed just 2 goals on 30 shots in a 3-2 OT win in Edmonton last time out, slapping the brakes on a personal 0-4-1 skid dating back to Dec. 27. He has allowed 3 or more goals in 5 of the last 6 games overall.
Panthers at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 4, Panthers 2
Moneyline
The defending champion AVALANCHE (-130) can be had on the cheap against the Panthers (+110).
Colorado has struggled lately, but it is still 35-16 in the past 51 games against Eastern Conference foes. It is also 42-20 in the previous 62 tries against Atlantic Division teams.
In addition, Florida is 1-4 in the last 5 road games, while going just 1-6 in the last 7 against Central Division teams. The Panthers are also an awful 0-5 in the last 5 tries against winning teams.
Puck line/Against the spread
The AVALANCHE -1.5 (+160) are worth a look for a chance to nearly double up. Go lightly, however. Colorado has just 1 win in the last 6 games, and it hasn’t won by 2 or more goals since Dec. 17, with its last 4 wins coming in either OT or via shootout.
UNDER 6.5 (-120) is a solid play in this East-West matchup.
The Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 games on the road for the Panthers, while going 7-3-3 in the last 13 games on a day of rest.
The Under is 9-2 in the last 11 games at home for the Avs, while going 15-5-1 in the last 21 against Eastern Conference foes, too.