Colorado Avalanche vs Detroit Red Wings

Detroit can't seem to get any improvement from its players or its coaches, and Derek Lalonde is on the hot seat as the Red Wings never seem to get any better. They have lost four one-goal games in a row, including 2-1 to Ottawa on Thursday while being outshot 32-20. Detroit has lost four straight on one day of res,t and it is 0-6 as an underdog of +151 to +200. Colorado has won four in a row against teams that allowed fewer than two goals in their previous game. The Avalanche have won 11 of the past 12 meetings with Detroit, including 5-1 on the road. Ville Husso is probable in net for the Red Wings and is 0-3-2 with a 3.69 goals-against average. Take the Avalanche.

Detroit defeated the Avalanche 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 22 in the only meeting this season, and it ended a 10-game losing streak against Colorado. That will give the Red Wings some extra confidence in tonight's game as they strive to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Detroit has won six of eight although they come off two losses against the New York Islanders and Florida. Alex Lyon is expected to start and he is 18-10-2 with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. The Avalanche have lost seven of eight versus Eastern Conference teams and Detroit has held its own on the road this season winning 15 of 28 on the season and its past three road games in a row. Take the Red Wings. 

Colorado is second in the tight race atop the Central, two points back from Dallas. The Avalanche were sluggish out of the break, going 0-3-1 while getting outscored 16-6 during an Eastern road swing, but they snapped back with six goals against Washington and are 3-1 in their past four. Colorado has 16 goals in those outings and is tied with Dallas for a league-high 3.7 goals per game, going OVER at a rate of 61% on the season (34-22-1). Detroit split a four-game trip to the northwest, but they've allowed 3+ goals in four of their past six and 3.3 GPG on the season. The Avs have taken 10-straight in this series, dating back to 2017, and nine of the past 14 meetings sailed OVER the total. Take Colorado to win another, and bet the OVER. 

Colorado has started to turn it on after an up-and-down season as we get closer to the playoffs and the Avalanche have won four in a row following a 5-4 victory over Ottawa on Thursday. Jonas Johansson had 32 saves in his first start of the season, but Alexandar Georgiev is expected back tonight and he has won his past three starts and he is 30-14-5 on the season. Detroit has lost nine in a row against the Avalanche and the Red Wings have lost eight of their past 10 games, including 2-1 against Nashville on Tuesday even though they outshot the Predators 29-16. The Red Wings are 17-42 versus Central Division opponents and Colorado is 75-25 its past 100 games against teams with losing records and 40-19 overall versus Eastern Conference teams. The AvS have won 46 of 68 road games. Take the Avalanche.