<p>Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Monday’s matchup between the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a> and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/line-combinations">Colorado Avalanche</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Panthers vs. Avalanche Odds</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Florida Panthers Moneyline: +105</li>



<li>Colorado Avalanche Moneyline: -125</li>



<li>Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 (-225), Avalanche -1.5 (+180)</li>



<li>Game Total: 6.5 (Over +100, Under -120)</li>
</ul>



<p><em>Game odds via Sports Interaction.</em></p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Handicapping the Panthers (24-16 SU, 17-23 ATS, 21-18-1 O/U)</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/news">Florida </a>enjoyed the weekend off after a 3-2 shootout win over Pittsburgh on Friday. After finishing their recent homestand 2-3, the Panthers are now set to play four of their next six games on the road. They enter Monday’s game with a strong 12-6-1 road record, including six wins in their last nine away games. Notably, they’ve won four of five as road underdogs this season, making them the fifth-most profitable moneyline bet on the road.</p>



<p>The Panthers trail the first-place <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> by just two points in the standings, though the defending Stanley Cup champions remain the Atlantic Division’s best team by many metrics. According to Evolving Hockey, Florida ranks third in five-on-five shot attempt percentage and fifth in expected goals percentage. They are also one of the league’s top defensive teams, ranking third in both expected goals against and shot attempts against.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="167"></div>



<p>Despite their strong underlying numbers, the Panthers have average scoring rates, ranking 18th in five-on-five goal share and 15th in five-on-five goals for. Goaltender <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/sergei-bobrovsky/1117">Sergei Bobrovsky</a> has not provided many elite-level performances, which has limited their ability to capitalize on their defensive strength. On the other hand, Florida’s sixth-ranked power play has helped it remain a top-10 offensive team overall.</p>



<p>Bobrovsky has also been better as of late. Since Dec. 1, the 36-year-old ranks 15th in goals saved above expected and 14th in save percentage, according to Evolving Hockey. Bobrovsky is also 17-8-1 on the season, and he has gone 8-3 straight-up in his last 11 starts. Not to mention, he hasn’t played since Jan. 2, so he’ll be coming into this matchup with three days’ rest.</p>



<p>On the injury front, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/aaron-ekblad/2363">Aaron Ekblad</a> is questionable for Monday’s game after he left Friday’s game late in the third period and <a href="https://x.com/GeorgeRichards/status/1876265201974259962">did not practice</a> on Sunday.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="154"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Handicapping the Avalanche (24-16 SU, 15-25 ATS, 20-17-3 O/U)</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/news">Avalanche</a> saw their six-game win streak snapped on Saturday with a 2-1 shootout loss to the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/news">Montreal Canadiens</a>. Still, they’ve been strong overall, losing just four times in their last 15 games dating back to early December. This consistency has them tied with the Dallas Stars at 49 points in the standings, though Dallas holds two games in hand.</p>



<p>Colorado hasn’t been all that dominant at home, though, posting an 11-8-1 record (55% win rate) compared to last season’s 75.6% home win percentage. The underperforming has made the Avalanche the ninth-least profitable bet as a home favorite this season. However,&nbsp;since making his Avalanche debut on Dec. 14, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/line-combinations">Mackenzie Blackwood</a> ranks third in goals saved above expected and sixth in save percentage. If the 28-year-old goaltender sustains this form, Colorado should be more competitive in the second half of the season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="141"></div>



<p>Monday’s game against the Florida Panthers is the second and final meeting between these teams this season. Colorado won the first matchup 7-4 on Nov. 23, but the Panthers have gone 6-4 straight-up in their past 10 games against the Avalanche. Last season, Florida dominated both meetings, outscoring Colorado 11-4. This season, the Avalanche have struggled against Eastern Conference opponents at home, going just 3-6 straight-up, while the Panthers are 4-4 straight-up on the road against Western Conference teams.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Statistically, Colorado doesn’t grade out better than Florida in many key areas. Per Evolving Hockey, the Avalanche rank 12th in expected goals percentage and eighth in shot attempt percentage at five-on-five, while Florida has a better five-on-five goal differential. The Avalanche do boast the league’s 10th-best power play, but their penalty kill ranks as the 10th-worst.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p>Forward <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=193584&amp;action=edit">Valeri Nichushkin</a> hasn’t played since Dec. 31st, and is considered day-to-day. Meanwhile, captain <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/gabriel-landeskog/1763">Gabriel Landeskog</a> recently skated with the team for the first time since his surgery in the offseason. Landeskog hasn’t played since the 2021-22 season when he helped guide Colorado to a Stanley Cup championship. </p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best bet for Panthers vs. Avalanche</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Over 6.5 Goals (+100) at Sports Interaction</li>
</ul>



<p>Both Colorado and Florida have favored the over this season. The Avalanche have hit the over in 12 of 20 home games, while the Panthers have done so in 12 of 19 road games. Historically, this trend holds true when these teams face each other, as nine of their past 13 matchups have featured at least seven goals, going 9-4 to the over.</p>



<p>With offensive firepower of players like <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/nathan-mackinnon/2130">Nathan MacKinnon</a>, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/cale-makar/2788">Cale Makar</a>, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/aleksander-barkov/2132">Aleksander Barkov</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Matthew Tkachuk</a> on display, it’s no surprise these teams have only combined to score fewer than six goals in four games since the 2017-18 season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="150"></div>



<p><a href="https://app.actionnetwork.com/4zu6/chznhm6b"><em>Follow Andy’s hockey bets on the Action App!</em></a></p>
