The Colorado Avalanche (5-0-1) and Utah Mammoth (4-2-0) meet in a Rocky Mountain duel tonight. Puck drop is set for 10:00 p.m. EDT at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
The Avalanche are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-110 / -110). The Avalanche are a -140 favorite to win outright, while the Mammoth are +120 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Avalanche vs. Mammoth predictions and NHL picks.
Avalanche vs. Mammoth Odds, Pick
| Avalanche Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +180 | 6 -110o / -110u | -140 |
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -220 | 6 -110o / -110u | +120 |
- Avalanche vs. Mammoth Spread: Avalanche -1.5 (+180), Mammoth +1.5 (-220)
- Avalanche vs. Mammoth Over/Under: 6 (-110o / -110u)
- Avalanche vs. Mammoth Moneyline: Avalanche -140, Utah +120
Avalanche vs. Mammoth Preview
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have been on a heater to start the season, and given the way last season ended, it’s no surprise.
Nathan MacKinnon looks like a total man on a mission in his first six games, with 10 points, and a special connection with Martin Necas.
Side note, it’ll be highly intriguing to see what happens with Necas and his expiring contract.
But I digress! Even aside from MacKinnon and Necas, the entire Avalanche roster is performing at a high level. At 5-on-5 play, Colorado is playing to a third-best 58.9 xGF% and fourth-best 2.2 xGA/60 on the defensive end.
The ageless wonder Brent Burns is still playing at a high level on the blueline, but I would like to see more out of Brock Nelson who re-signed with the club on a three-year deal over the summer.
In net, Scott Wedgewood has had to carry the load with Mackenzie Blackwood being out with injury, and has been playing lights out with a .938 SV% and a 5.2 GSAx. But that’s not a surprise.
Dating back to last season, Wedgewood is 13-0-2 in his past 15 starts, and was even named one of the Three Stars of the Week last week.
Utah Mammoth
This has been my first time writing about the Mammoth this season, so I need to preface it by saying they have one of the coolest logos/jerseys in the league – and it’s not something I’m willing to back down from.
Utah has been on a roll to start the season, minus losing to tonight’s opponent, the Avalanche, on Opening Night. However, they have won four of their past five games.
Perhaps the opponents they faced weren’t all that tough (Calgary, San Jose, Boston), but wins are wins.
Defensively, the Mammoth have been exceptional, playing to a second-best 5-on-5 play with a 2.15 xGA/60, and offensively they’ve been rolling as well with a 57.57 xGF%.
There’s certainly a lot to like with this squad, especially with the power duo of Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther, but the big surprise has been Nick Schmaltz’s nine points in six games.
I always liked Schmaltz as a player, but as a point-per-game player? I wonder if that will be a thing all season. He posted a four point game against the Sharks (including a hat trick), and nabbed two assists on Sunday against the Bruins.
At the time, the goaltending has seemed to hold strong. Karel Vejmelka is putting up exceptional numbers to start with a .912 SV% and a 5.1 GSAx. Will that hold up throughout the season? To be determined, but it’s certainly a positive to see some progress from the Czechian.
Avalanche vs. Mammoth Prediction
The total is set for 5.5 and I can’t be surprised with that.
Both of these defenses have held on exceptionally strong, and the goaltending has been some of the best in the NHL.
When these two teams met on Opening Night, Colorado pulled away with a 2-1 victory in Denver.
With the Avs coming into Salt Lake, I wonder if we see a little bit of the same type of play. Low scoring, defense dominated, and overpowering netminders.
Eventually I’m expecting regression from Wedgewood. For someone who’s been a backup his whole career, this run that he’s on is otherworldly. But for now, I think the team in front of him has protected him well from pucks going past.
Picking under 5.5 is always a risk, but at plus-money, I’m truly intrigued with how both team’s defenses have held up. So let’s ride with a Rocky Mountain under.
Pick: Under 5.5 (+110)
