Published Jan 9, 5:38am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jan 9, 5:38am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Teams that find themselves at contrasting ends of the NHL standings collide on Jan 10, as the Colorado Avalanche host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Find our picks here.
The Avalanche ended their winless streak on Thursday after dominating against the Ottawa Senators. Their offensive players sparkled in that win, and another straightforward success could be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets sit bottom of the Metropolitan Division, and they have struggled for consistency in their recent outings after losing each of their last three.
The Colorado Avalanche bounced back to form with an emphatic display on Thursday, beating the Ottawa Senators 8-2 at Ball Arena. Josh Manson was a star player in the win, scoring twice, and adding two assists.
Brock Nelson also scored twice in the victory, while further efforts were netted by Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon.
The Avalanche stormed to success in the second period, netting a staggering six goals against a shell-shocked rival. The Avalanche have dominated at Ball Arena throughout the season, winning 17 of their 19 games.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets will likely be playing with no pressure this weekend, as very few people would give them a chance against the free-scoring Avalanche.
Columbus sit bottom of the Metropolitan Division, and their confidence levels will be low after suffering defeats in each of their last three games.
In their previous game, they were beaten 5-3 by the Vegas Golden Knights, shipping three efforts in the second period. That loss saw their road record drop to 9-10-3 in the NHL this season.
| TOTAL | Blue Jackets | Avalanche | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINS | 70 | 24 | 45 | - |
| GOALS | 402 | 160 | 242 |
Colorado's excellent home record this season is extremely challenging to overlook this weekend. Therefore, we will be siding with the Avalanche to cover the spread against their struggling opponents.
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Pick
Colorado Avalanche
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