NHL Preview & Picks – November 19, 2021

We’re 5-1 in the NHL on the week and look to be turning things around after a slow start. There’s only two games happening in the NHL and both are out west. The Jets travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks and Colorado faces off against the Kraken. Check out my preview and picks below.

Colorado Avalanche @ Seattle Kraken

• Time: 10:00 PM ET
• TV Coverage: ESPN+
• Colorado Avalanche: 7-5-1, 5th Central (3-3 Away)
• Seattle Kraken: 4-11-1, 8th Pacific (3-5 Home)

Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado’s last 5 games.
• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Seattle’s last 7 games.

The preseason favorite Colorado Avalanche face off against the NHL’s newest expansion team. The Av’s have had a less than ideal start to the season with just a 7-5 record. Despite their rough start, they’ve rattled off three dominating wins in a row outscoring opponents 17-5. The Kraken are in the middle of a six game homestand losing their first three games. They don’t look to have a break anytime soon facing Colorado tonight with the Capitals and Hurricanes coming up.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche have seemed to have found their groove even with missing several key pieces. Colorado is still without superstar Nathan MacKinnon who’s out indefinitely with a lower body injury. In addition to MacKinnon the Avalanche have several other key players injured including J.T. Compher (upper body), Bowen Byram (concussion), Martin Kaut (shoulder), and Stefan Matteau (leg).

Colorado has averaged 5.67 goals per game during this three game stretch which is 2.13 goals above their season average (3.54). Nazem Kadri continues to stay hot extending his point streak to seven games. Their Power Play has also been great as of late going 6-13 during this recent win streak.

Their defense has also been much better as of late allowing 1.67 goals against in their last 3 games. To be fair, they have played the Vancouver Canucks twice during that stretch who are on a 5 game losing streak. Darcy Kuemper is expected to get the start tonight against the Kraken. Kuemper replaced Phillip Grubauer this year, who is expected to start for the Kraken, and has not lived up to expectations. He enters the game with a -1.1 GSAx but like the Avalanche, have been better recently.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken have struggled as of late losing their last 5 games being outscored 24-14. The Kraken are averaging 2.75 goals per game on the year and have remained around that number despite the losing streak. Seattle has generated 35 high danger shots for which is middle of the road but have a -1.65 goals for above expected. This indicates that they are failing to convert on these opportunities slightly below expected.

Defensively the Kraken rank second to last in the league in goals allowed giving up an average of 3.69 goals per game. Seattle has the leagues worst goals against above expected by far which has contributed to their struggles. Phillip Grubauer who has taken the main responsibility in net after Chris Driedger suffered an early season injury. He has the league worst goals saved above expected with a -14.0 through his 13 starts. Grubauer is expected to get the nod against his old team which can hopefully turn things around for him.

PICK: OVER 6.0 (-110)

PICK: COLORADO TO WIN IN REGULATION (-110)

The Avalanche’s offense is finally clicking on all cylinders going up against a struggling Kraken defense. While Grubauer does have a revenge angle here, I still believe in the Avalanche’s ability to score.

Winnipeg Jets @ Vancouver Canucks

• Time: 10:00 PM ET
• TV Coverage: ESPN+
• Winnipeg Jets: 9-3-4, 3rd Central (2-2-3 Away)
• Vancouver Canucks: 5-10-2, 7th Pacific (2-5-1 Home)

Trends:

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Winnipeg’s last 6 games.
• The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Vancouver’s last 12 games against Winnipeg.

The Jets enter this game after a shootout loss to the Oilers last night. Before that loss, they rattled off three wins outscoring opponents 12-5. Vancouver is currently on a five game loss streak that includes two losses to Colorado and Anaheim. They have faced some very hot teams as of late but, will have had an extra day off in this matchup.

Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg travels to Vancouver off a back to back vs Edmonton where they split a home and home. They are also coming off no days rest which is a factor that needs to be considered. This will be the first game of the year that they have played off no days rest so we’ll see how they handle this spot.

The Jets have been solid offensively averaging 3.19 goals per game with a -0.77 goals for above expected. Despite their inability to capitalize, they have generated the third most high danger shots for with 33. Winnipeg lost Bryan Little for the season after suffering a concussion in the preseason which led to complications. Paul Stastny has also been declared out for tonight’s game.

On defense Winnipeg has been great only allowing 1.67 goals against per 60. They also only have a -10.61 goals against above expected which is fourth best in the league. However, despite these great stats they are allowing 33 high danger shots against. Eric Comrie is expected to get the start tonight after Connor Hellebuyck started last night. Comrie has been good this year in this four starts with a +3.1 GSAx and 1.98 GAA.

Vancouver Canucks

The Nucks’ have been a rough stretch as previously mentioned but have had to go against some hot teams. They are in a great spot to turn it around here with the Jets coming off a hard fought game last night.

Offensively, Vancouver hasn’t been great with a -2.09 goals for above expected. They rank near the bottom of the league in shooting % highlighting their inability to convert on scoring chances. Their Power Play has also been a mess ranking 27th in the league going 1-15 in their last 5 games. J.T. Miller leads the team with 18 points while Quinn Hughes is behind him with 14.

Vancouver’s defense hasn’t been much better ranking 27th in the league giving up an average of 3.38 goals per game. Their penalty kill has also been atrocious ranking dead last in the league. To the Canucks credit, they do have a -5.16 goals against above expected, meaning they have allowed less goals than what was expected. Thatcher Demko, is expected to get the nod tonight. Despite the Canucks defense failing to provide much support, he only has a -0.9 GSAx.

PICK: VANCOUVER CANUCKS (+105)

Vancouver should have won their last game vs Colorado but Quinn Hughes took a stupid penalty that wound up costing them the game. The Jets are coming off a tough game last night against a rival and face a hungry Canucks team.

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.