Avalanche vs. Blackhawks NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - March 20

The Colorado Avalanche (44-13-10) will visit the Chicago Blackhawks (26-30-12) on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET, in a matchup featuring two teams residing at different ends of the Western Conference. The sportsbooks have made the Avalanche heavy favorites at -340 on the moneyline, despite being the visitors, and the Blackhawks are at +270.

Colorado had a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars in its last game on March 18, falling in the shootout 1-0. Nazem Kadri (one assist) and Cale Makar (one goal) were among the three Avalanche players who recorded one point each.

Chicago won its last game 2-1 on the road against the Minnesota Wild on March 19. Three Blackhawks skaters had one point each in that outing, including Andrew Mangiapane (one assist) and Ilya Mikheyev (one goal).

Before watching this matchup, here's a glimpse at which squad we think will emerge with the victory in Friday's action on the ice.

Avalanche vs. Blackhawks Predictions & Pick

For the upcoming contest between the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, sourced from Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Avalanche 3 - Blackhawks 2
• Pick OU: Under 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 5.05 goals)
  

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Avalanche vs. Blackhawks Moneylines

Grab a peek below at the most up-to-date moneylines for the Avalanche-Blackhawks game.

• Favorite: Avalanche (-340)
• Underdog: Blackhawks (+270)

Avalanche Betting Insights

• The Avalanche are 43-22 this season when favored on the moneyline.
• In games it has played with moneyline odds of -340 or shorter, Colorado has compiled a 6-1 record (winning 85.7% of its games).
• The Avalanche's implied moneyline win probability is 77.3% in this game.
• Colorado and its opponent have posted more than 6.5 goals in 29 of 67 games this season.

Blackhawks Betting Insights

• This season the Blackhawks have won 26 of the 64 games, or 40.6%, in which they've been an underdog.
• Chicago has played as a moneyline underdog of +270 or longer two times this season. They split the games 1-1.
• The Blackhawks have a 27.0% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Chicago has played 26 games this season that ended with over 6.5 goals.

Avalanche Key Stats

• Colorado's 247 total goals (3.7 per game, on 6.5 assists per outing) lead the NHL.
• Defensively, the Avalanche are the stingiest squad in NHL play, allowing 166 total goals (just 2.5 per game).
• It has a league-best goal differential of +81.
• The 35 power-play goals the Avalanche have scored this season (on 217 power-play chances) rank 22nd in the NHL.
• Colorado's 16.13% power-play conversion rate ranks 29th in the league.
• The Avalanche have capitalized with one shorthanded goal this season (32nd among NHL teams).
• Colorado's 82.63% penalty-kill success rate is the sixth-best in the league.
• Colorado wins the eighth-highest percentage of faceoffs in the NHL, 51.2%.
• The Avalanche shoot 10.9% as a team (17th in the league).

Blackhawks Key Stats

• Chicago has 177 goals this season (2.6 per game), 29th in the league.
• The Blackhawks' total of 213 goals given up (3.1 per game) is 22nd in the NHL.
• it has the 29th-ranked goal differential in the league at -36.
• The Blackhawks have 37 power-play goals (on 196 chances), 19th in the NHL.
• Chicago has the league's 21st-ranked power-play percentage (18.88%).
• This season, the Blackhawks have five shorthanded goals (14th in NHL).
• The 84.65% penalty-kill percentage of Chicago is tops in the league.
• At 46.8%, Chicago has the league's 31st-ranked faceoff win percentage.
• With a shooting percentage of 10.7%, the Blackhawks are 20th in the league.