NHL Tuesday best bets: Avalanche, Red Wings to win on home ice

We started the week without any hockey. The league had just one game scheduled for Monday, and, unfortunately, COVID-19 nixed the contest.

Luckily, we're going to get our fill - and then some - tonight as the NHL ramps back up with a 12-game slate.

Let's get into our best bets.

COVID-19 and injuries have decimated the Avalanche's roster. However, you wouldn't know it as they continue to chug along like they're at full health.

Colorado owns a 7-2-1 record over its last 10 contests and has scored more goals (48) in that time than any team in the league. The Avalanche continue to fill the net and win games regardless of who's in the lineup.

I like their chances of continuing that trend at home against the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin remains sidelined, which means Alexander Georgiev gets the nod in goal. That's problematic.

While Georgiev has performed a little better of late, he still ranks near the bottom in goals saved above average per start - ahead of only Kevin Lankinen, Jonas Johansson, and Philipp Grubauer. On average, Georgiev is costing the Rangers 0.60 goals each game.

The Avalanche will undoubtedly generate a lot of chances, as they always do. And I don't like Georgiev's odds of making the saves he should, let alone out-performing expectation.

Bet: Avalanche inside regulation (-120)

The Red Wings have gone ice cold of late, losing three consecutive games by at least three goals.

Meanwhile, the Islanders won two of three and picked up at least a point in five of their last six contests. Back those trends to continue, right? I don't think so.

New York remains lifeless offensively. The Islanders are generating just 2.15 xG per 60 at five-on-five over the last 10 games. That's a brutal number, and now they're expected to be without their best weapon in Mathew Barzal. Detroit isn't stout defensively, but it should limit New York in this game, especially with Alex Nedeljkovic between the pipes.

Nedeljkovic has stopped 4.3 goals above expectation this year. He's a clear upgrade over Thomas Greiss, who owns a minus-4.2 in that category.

I just don't see the Islanders scoring more than a couple of goals in this game. I'm happy to back the Wings on home ice - where they're 9-3-2 - at near even money.

Bet: Red Wings (-105)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

Copyright (C) 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.