Colorado vs Los Angeles NHL Free Pick 1/27

• 27 January 2016

HRWager’s NHL Free Pick look at the prowess or the lack of it for the Colorado Avalanche without their best goal tender.  Varlamov was on a heater since December.  This allowed Colorado to make progress from the basement to eight spot in their conference.  Alas, the netminder is out again today because of a Domestic Abuse charge that is hanging over his head.  As a result, they are heavy underdogs when they travel to the first place Kings tonight.  Which way will the winds of profit blow to in this late night moneymaker?

NHL Free Pick : No Way in San Jose

Without Varlamov, the Sharks mauled Colorado last game out.  Now the lanche stay out west to play the Kings.  This is the back end of consecutive nights in which they must play a game. They average 2.7 goals but have gone over the three mark only twice in their last seven games.  From all appearances, they will need offense that they can not muster to stay with the Kings this evening.

 

 

-200 Mark

30-15-3 over all but just 5-4-1 in their last ten is LA.  Enroth and Quick are both hot in the net and are much better than what fodder Colorado throws out there tonight.  Their overall defense is third in the league.  Ironically, their last game was also against the Sharks which LA won in overtime.  Marian Gaborik got the overtime winner and snapped a long goalless streak to boot.  Vincent Lecavalier scored the game tying goal and has as many this year as he did all last with the Flyers.  At age 35, he is winding back the hands of time this year.

-200 is heavy chalk for the NHL regular season.  Usually this should be shunned, but the nature of the dominance of the LA Kings goaltenders in this series is a key factor.  Combine that with a tired Avalanche team and one can see LA winning this particular game four out of five times.  Our NHL Free Pick of the Day is to eat the chalk and wager the Kings in this one.  Good fortune and we will see you later today here at The HRW.