Dean Etheridge
The Colorado Avalanche will be looking to build on their win over the Blues when they host the struggling Philadelphia Flyers in Denver on Tuesday. Here we look at their chances and give you our verdict in our latest free NHL betting picks.
- Match; Colorado Avalanche vs Philadelphia Flyers
- Where; Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- When; Tuesday, December 13th, 2022
- Puck Drop; 9 pm ET
The Colorado Avalanche have had a rough time of things lately. They finally ended a four match losing streak with a 2-1 over the St Louis Blues on Sunday. The Avalanche took advantage of the Blues’ lack of killer instinct, and managed to salvage a regulation time draw, this despite being 2-1 down with less than ten seconds remaining.
Mikko Rantanen was the hat-trick hero for the Avalanche. Not only did he score the equalizer in the dying seconds, he also scored the overtime winner, giving Colorado a 3-2 win. And just for good measure, he had also scored the Avalanche’s opening goal.
This one felt real nice. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/dKnhTqPKW0
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 11, 2022
Flyers no longer flying high
The 3-2 win ended a sequence of four defeats. It also sets the Avalanche up nicely for their next fixture – a home match against the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. Why? Because the Flyers certainly aren’t flying at the moment. They’re sinking.
Philadelphia have lost their last three. Ironically, their last win was actually against the Avalanche, a 5-3 home win just a week ago. But in their defense, Philadelphia’s defeats haven’t been stinkers, far from it.
In their last outing, they lost 5-4 away to the Coyotes, after overtime.
Final from OT in Arizona.#PHIvsARI | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/8JJ3OeWFNJ
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 12, 2022
In the match before that they lost 2-1 to the Golden Knights – also after overtime. But in the game prior to that, they did get spanked – losing 4-1 at home to the Capitals. Apart from the defeat to the Capitals, the other matches were close run things. So the three game losing streak may be slightly misleading.
But that said, I’m sure Jared Bednar would prefer to play Philadelphia on a three match losing streak, than a three match winning streak. And after finally ending their own losing run, this matchup does give the Aves a great opportunity to get a run of their own going, and attempt to build some momentum for when they get some of their injured players back over the next few weeks.
Colorado’s fringe players need to step up
If Colorado gets into the mindset that they need to wait for the likes of Nathan MacKinnon to return before they can get their season going again, they may as well pack up and go home now. If they can start to put a run together now, imagine the belief the team will have when the injured players start to return.
Afterall, they are the reigning Stanley Cup holders, so they should have enough self belief to keep the ship sailing in the right direction whilst a few of the main bodies are missing from the main deck.
2023 Stanley Cup Winner Betting
The fact that Colorado has so many quality players yet to return seems to be what’s keeping their odds reasonably low in the betting to win the 2023 Stanley Cup.
Colorado is +650, second to the Boston Bruins, who are +500. The Bruins are having a stonker of a season, and it will be some contest if they are still playing this well when the Ave get their star performers back. A showdown between these two sides, if both in form, would be a contest well worth watching.
| 2023 Stanley Cup Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Boston Bruins | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1000 | +1000 | +950 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1400 | +1300 | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1600 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Florida Panthers | +1800 | +1800 | +1700 |
| Calgary Flames | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| New York Rangers | +2200 | +1900 | +2000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2200 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Dallas Stars | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
Also included in the betting favorites with the best NHL betting sites is the Golden Knights (+900), along with the Devils and the Maple Leafs, who are both at +1000.
Avalanche vs Flyers Betting Odds and Picks
With home advantage, and the stronger side on paper, it comes as no surprise to see that the Avalanche are the favorites to win with the best NHL sportsbooks. BetOnline makes Colorado their -215 favorites to win on the moneyline. As for the Flyers, they are +185.
On the handicap line, the Flyers obviously have the +1.5 points advantage. Philadelphia are -135 with the lead, whilst the Avalanche are +115. The total points spread is set at 6 goals. Over 6 is at -105, with under 6 at -115.
Despite their scratchy form this season, I feel that Colorado will win this match. The manner of their comeback on Sunday, along with the defeat suffered by the Flyers, says to me the Avalanche will take the spoils.
I’m not against a bet on the moneyline at -215, but for me, my betting pick is for Colorado to win on the handicap at +115.
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Moving on, and on the total points spread, both teams have consistently been under 6 in recent matches. Although the last time, they were both over 6 was when they played each other. That said, I’m still thinking this will be under 6 goals.
