San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions
The San Jose Sharks (19-33-12) square off with the Colorado Avalanche (34-21-6) Tuesday at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook's lines around the Sharks vs. Avalanche odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sharks picked up a surprising 3-2 overtime victory at the Winnipeg Jets Monday, and now face a quick turnaround in Denver against the defending champs. The San Jose Sharks charter flight left Winnipeg at 11:40 p.m. ET, arriving in Denver at 1:48 a.m. ET. That's a rather late night getting into the team hotel.
The Avalanche were on the short end of a 3-2 OT loss against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, and the defending champs are 0-2-1 in the past 3 games, albeit against 3 playoff contenders.
This is the first of 3 regular-season meetings between these teams, with the clubs scheduled for a back-to-back set in San Jose on April 4 and 6.
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Sharks at Avalanche odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML) : Sharks +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Avalanche -320 (bet $320 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Sharks +1.5 (+120) | Avalanche -1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under (O/U) : 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Sharks at Avalanche projected goalies
Kaapo Kahkonen (8-14-5, 3.68 GAA, .882 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (26-13-5, 2.66 GAA, .919 SV%, 3 SO)
Kahkonen took one for the team against the Washington Capitals last time out, coughing up 8 goals on just 30 shots Saturday. He had been pretty good prior to that, allowing 3 or fewer goals in each of his 7 assignments in February.
Georgiev allowed 3 goals on 35 shots in the 3-2 overtime loss against the Kraken on Sunday. He is having a difficult start to March, going 0-1-1 with a 5.16 GAA and .852 SV% in 2 outings.
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Sharks at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 4, Sharks 2
Moneyline
The Avalanche (-320) will cost more than 3 times your potential return against the Sharks, which has very little value with too much risk. That's especially true since Colorado has been struggling of late.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The AVALANCHE -1.5 (-140) are much more reasonably priced. The Sharks will be bleary-eyed after an overtime win in Winnipeg Monday, then a 2-hour plane ride and late-night hotel arrival at elevation. It's a lot of adjustment in a short period of time for a team that hasn't been very good over the long haul.
Colorado needs a win badly, and it will get it against a subpar San Jose side.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-110) is the lean in this Western Conference battle.
The Under has connected at a 5-1-1 pace in the past 7 games against winning teams for San Jose and is 4-0-1 in its last 5 on the road.
The Under is 18-6-3 in the past 27 games for the Avs against Western Conference foes, while cashing at an 8-2-1 mark in the past 11 against the Pacific Division.
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