Published Jan 8, 1:55am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jan 8, 1:55am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Two teams that find themselves at opposite ends of their respective divisions will collie at Ball Arena on Jan 8, as the Colorado Avalanche welcome the Ottawa Senators. Find our picks here.
It has been a positive campaign to this point for the Avalanche, but they will have questions to answer on Thursday following back-to-back defeats in the NHL.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators will also be aiming for a return to form after losing their previous game. However, they have gone 6-3-1, which will give them hope of upsetting the odds.
The Colorado Avalanche have stamped their authority on the Western Conference so far this season, achieving an overall record of 31-4-7.
However, they will have questions to answer this week following back-to-back defeats. Despite that drop in form, Colorado still hold a healthy eleven-point advantage at the top of the Central Division, boasting both the best offensive and defensive records in the West.
The Avalanche suffered their second straight loss on Tuesday, as they were beaten 4-2 on the road by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The Ottawa Senators may sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, but a run of victories would put them back in playoff contention. They have shown their quality across their last ten games, winning on six occasions.
Meanwhile, they have been efficient in the offensive areas already this term, having netted 136 goals.
But, they will need to pick themselves up following a recent home loss, as they were easily beaten 5-3 by the Detroit Red Wings. Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk both scored goals in the loss for the Senators.
| TOTAL | Senators | Avalanche | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINS | 61 | 19 | 38 | - |
| GOALS | 433 | 182 | 251 |
There will be pressure on the hosts to bounce back to form this week following a run of defeats. It is hard to overlook their chances given their overall form in 2025-26. Meanwhile, they have won 75% of their previous home games against the Senators in the NHL.
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Pick
Colorado Avalanche
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