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NHL Predictions Senators Edition Colorado Avalanche at Ottawa

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Welcome back to NHL Predictions with us here at Last Word On Hockey. This game features the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Ottawa Senators. This marks the final of three consecutive games the Sens have played against divisional leaders. Meanwhile, the Avs are in the middle of a four-game Atlantic Division road trip. Who do you give the edge to for this one?

NHL Predictions Golden Knights and Senators

Season Series: Colorado scored five times in just over six minutes of play on Mads Sogaard, less than three weeks ago. They won 8-2.

Puck Drop: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

How to Watch: Sportsnet, TVAS, ALT

Location: Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario

The Goings On in Ottawa

To first of all set the stage, surprise, surprise, there is some news from the Ottawa Senators net. Mads Sogaard, who was very impressive in the 7-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, was sent down to Belleville of the AHL yesterday. This is a good indicator that their number one tender, Linus Ullmark, is ready to go. After all, he did backup Sogaard on Sunday. So, he was close even then.

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Ullmark hasn’t played in a game since December 27th. He left the team on a personal leave of absence after that, and hasn’t been back. Hopefully he is in a better head space now. The Sens could really use some stability in the crease.

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With this news, as of today, the Sens only have two goalies on their roster. That being Ullmark and veteran James Reimer. Head coach Travis Green let us know Reimer is a go. This allows Ullmark another chance to watch things unfold from the bench. In any case, this is a good time for our disclaimer. Be sure to check social media before locking in your daily fantasy starting lineups.

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The other roster update is that Xavier Bourgault was called up, as well. With David Perron also on the sideline with a hernia, it seems Ottawa needed a replacement for Stephen Halliday. He is considered day-to-day after getting hit into the stanchion in the game against Vegas.

Otherwise for Ottawa, the best part of their game right now, is the play of Ridly Greig. The line of Greig with Dylan Cozens and Brady Tkachuk is doing all the right things, right now. In the game against Vegas, they posted an expected goal percentage of 75 in almost ten minutes of ice time together. This is a line that goes to the dirty areas, and when they do, they have the hockey sense and puck skills to capitalize on their opportunities. Greig especially is on a run lately, with eight points in his last seven games.

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What About the Avalanche?

The Avs made some news yesterday as they signed defenceman Sam Malinski to a four-year contract extension. It is a big deal based on his body of work. However, the Avalanche management must feel his contributions this year have been a nice fit. But outside of that, what is going on in Colorado?

Many of the rumours floating around seem to suggest Colorado is looking to make an addition. This isn’t surprising given their track record with a propensity for shuffling their lineup around. Most of their lineup works right now, and it shows in their record at 35-6-9. Moreover, the Avs are currently running away with the race for the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy for league’s best regular season record. In any sense, it seems they would look for some depth upfront, but not at the expense of any key roster players.

Offensively, they are led by Cale Makar, Martin Necas, and Nathan MacKinnon. Makar has 56 points, while Necas is up to 62, not bad. However, MacKinnon is having an unreal season. Through 50 games played, his 38 goals is already the fifth most on his career. The Sens need to know where he is at all times.

    NHL Predictions

    Look, Ottawa is in a strange place. Realistically, they are too far back to put pressure on themselves to expect a Stanley Cup Playoff trip, at this juncture of the season. Conversely, they are too far in on their organizational plan to be sellers. So, the players have some security and just need to worry about playing. We think they win, because they are at home, they are coming off a blowout win over Vegas, and they are playing a little freer than they have been on the season.

    Prediction: Avalanche 2 – Senators 3

    Prop Bets

    For a couple of anytime goal scorers, check these guys out. First up, for the Avs, we like Brock Nelson, who is up to 27 goals in 50 games on the campaign. He’s coming off a hat trick on four shots against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and we think he keeps the good time rolling. Meanwhile for Ottawa, take Dylan Cozens to find fine twine tonight. He had two last time out against the Vegas Golden Knights. He’s been going to the right areas, and we think he gets rewarded.

    Main Photo Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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