Detroit Red Wings vs. Avalanche Game 68 Preview, Prediction, Odds

Jan 16, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) shoots the puck at Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso (35) as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) falls next to defenseman Filip Hronek (17) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) shoots the puck at Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso (35) as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) falls next to defenseman Filip Hronek (17) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings have had a few days off after falling short of the Predators in Nashville. They tried to mount a comeback but ultimately fell short and were handed a loss. But they have had a few days off to regroup and prepare for the home stretch.

The Detroit Red Wings have 14 games left on the schedule, including the matchup against Colorado. They will play five over the next seven days, Saturday to Saturday. It will be a busy week for the Red Wings as they try to keep their foot on the gas.

Perhaps the most noteworthy part of Saturday’s contest comes with the Red Wings, who have called up defenseman Simon Edvinsson from the Grand Rapids Griffins and are expected to see him make his debut this weekend.

The Red Wings are hoping that the youngster can slot into the defense core and get his feet wet with the NHL caliber of play. He’s still young and has time to get going, but seeing how things pan out will be interesting.

Detroit Red Wings game information and prediction vs. Avalanche

The Red Wings are 2-7-1 in their last ten matchups and are looking to try and get things back on track. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are 6-3-1 in their last ten games as they look to cling to the third spot in the Central Division standings and compete for a chance to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

It will be a tough test for Edvinsson in his first matchup as he’ll have to take on one of the game’s best offensive players, Nathan MacKinnon. On top of that, MacKinnon has 9 points in the last five games, including three goals and six assists.

Cale Makar is arguably one of the NHL’s best defensemen, so it could make for a busy day for the Red Wings. It will be interesting to see how things pan out as the Red Wings look to halt the Avalanche offense.

Game: Detroit Red Wings (30-28-9) vs. Colorado Avalanche (39-22-6)

When: Saturday, March 18th

Time: 1:00 PM ET

Where: Little Caesars Arena

Where to Watch: Bally Sports Detroit/ ESPN+

Odds: According to DraftKings, the Colorado Avalanche are the favorite on the Moneyline with a -170 payout. The Detroit Red Wings feature a +145 payout and are the favorite on the Puck Line at +1.5 with a -165 payout. The Avalanche have a +140 payout with a -1.5 line. The over/under is currently set at 6.5. The over has a +100 payout, and the under has a -120 payout.

Prediction: The Red Wings will have their work cut out for them in the Saturday afternoon game. They must halt the Avalanche offense and keep Mackinnon and Makar off the scoreboard. The thing working in the Red Wings’ favor is that they have been off the ice since Tuesday and have had some time to recoup and get a reset in.

I think the Red Wings will remain competitive, but I have a hard time taking them on the Moneyline. For that reason, I like the over in this game, thinking that the Avalanche will get the best of the Red Wings by the end of the game.

Must Read. Detroit Red Wings: Robby Fabbri continues to trend toward a return. light

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.