Canucks Set to Extend Hot Home Start vs Avalanche

Given how Vancouver has fared on home ice in recent seasons, fans and bettors might still be in disbelief as the Canucks prepare to welcome the Colorado Avalanche to Rogers Arena on Saturday night. Vancouver enters this one with a sparkling 5-2-2 record but could be in tough against an Avalanche side that has looked impressive away from Pepsi Center.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Canucks open this one as -145 favorites, the third time in the past four home games that Vancouver has seen -145 or better odds. The total of 6.5 is the highest for Vancouver since Nov. 2.

Colorado Avalanche News & Notes

The Avalanche have mostly put the sting of a recent five-game losing skid behind them, having reeled off wins in three of their past four games while scoring 19 goals in that span. It's a major step forward for a Colorado team that opened the season on fire but scored just seven goals during its losing skid (which included home losses to the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers).

But while things are back on track for that powerhouse Avalanche offense, there remains no timetable for Gabriel Landeskog's return to action. Landeskog has been out of action since the end of October with a lower-body injury; he's off to a quiet start with seven points in 11 games but is coming off a career-best 34-goal, 75-point performance last season.

Vancouver Canucks News & Notes

Rogers Arena is rocking – and it's unfamiliar territory for fans, with Vancouver averaging just 17.3 home wins over the past four seasons while failing to finish above .500 in its own building since 2014-15. Even more impressive: the Canucks rank second in the NHL in average goals scored at home (4.00) and third in average goal differential (+1.44).

And unlike Vancouver's prior successful seasons (which were largely driven by the scoring talents of the Sedin twins), this version of the Canucks has employed a more balanced scoring attack. Three players share the team lead with eight goals, with six skaters – including rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes – having recorded at least 12 points to date.

Betting Pick: Vancouver Moneyline (-145)

Home ice has been a major advantage for the Canucks this season – and while the Avs are a formidable team away from Colorado, we like the Canucks' scoring balance and strong goaltending to prevail.