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Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche is congratulated by Mikko Rantanen after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks. Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP.

The defending Stanley Cup-champion Colorado Avalanche are in Philadelphia to take on the Flyers on Monday. Read on for our Avalanche-Flyers picks and predictions.

The Colorado Avalanche have won nine of their past 13 games even though their lineup has been decimated by injuries. And the way the Philadelphia Flyers have been playing, the Avs are in great position to continue that impressive run.

A depleted roster would normally pose a challenge for the defending Stanley Cup champs, but a Monday date with the Flyers is just the kind of favorable matchup that should work in Colorado's favor. The Flyers have just one win in their past 13 games, and now own the second-worst goal differential in the Eastern Conference (minus-23).

Here are our Avalanche-Flyers picks and predictions for Monday (odds via DraftKings SportsbookFanDuel Sportsbook, and Caesars Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale).

Avalanche vs. Flyers Game Info

Date: Monday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+, NBCSP, Altitude
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Avalanche vs. Flyers Odds

Avalanche vs. Flyers Odds Analysis

Consensus odds opened with the Avalanche priced as whopping -193 road favorites. Yet, while 92% of the early money has come in on the Avs, the consensus line has only shifted slightly to -191.

The goal total opened at 6, priced at -115 for the Under and -105 for the Over. A whopping 96% of the early money is on the Under.

Avalanche vs. Flyers Picks

  • Moneyline: Avalanche (-194 at FanDuel) 
  • Over/Under: Under 5.5 (-105 at DraftKings)
  • Prop: Alex Newhook Over 0.5 Goals (+340 at Caesars)

Avalanche vs. Flyers ML Pick

Avalanche (-194) ★★★

Colorado is dealing with a series of significant injuries, making the Avalanche heavily dependent on the stars that remain in the lineup. Fortunately for Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar are difference makers that should still be able to steer the Avs to the winner’s circle. Colorado is 8-5 on the road and has managed a 50.4% rate on five-on-five score-and-venue-adjusted expected goals.

Not only have the Flyers been struggling recently, the results haven't really been at all surprising. Philadelphia had a few more wins early in the season when goaltender Carter Hart was playing at an outstanding level, but it was never reasonable to expect him to play like that forever.

The Philadelphia offense ranks last in the NHL in goals per game at 2.32, a major reason why eight of the Flyers' last 12 defeats during their ugly stretch have been by multiple goals.

Colorado is a heavy favorite, but -194 at DraftKings is slightly more appealing than -200 at BetMGM, and -205 at FanDuel and Caesars.

Avalanche vs. Flyers O/U Pick

Under 5.5 (-105) ★★★★

While the Avalanche at full strength have loads of offensive firepower, it is a different matter with wingers Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin all injured. On the road this season, the Avalanche are averaging a total of 5.75 goals (for plus against) per 60 minutes. They have seen five goals or fewer in seven of nine road games.

Philadelphia has a hard enough time scoring. The Flyers' 2.37 goals for per 60 minutes at home rank 31st, and they're averaging a total of 5.51 goals (for plus against) per 60 minutes at home.  

Under 5.5 goals can be had for -105 at DraftKings, while many other top sportsbooks have the Under priced at -110. FanDuel offers Under 6 at -132 but that is a steep price to pay for the extra half-goal.

Avalanche vs. Flyers Prop Pick

Alex Newhook Over 0.5 goals (+340) ★★★★

When seeking out value on an anytime goal-scorer prop, it is nice to find a player who has a strong existing or emerging track record. That is not quite the case with Alex Newhook, the Avalanche forward who has a modest seven points in 22 games this season.

Newhook has scored all four of his goals this season on the road, but his track record matters less than the exciting new opportunity that he is getting. With Lehkonen injured in Colorado’s last game, Newhook is moving up to the left wing on Colorado’s top line, alongside MacKinnon and Rantanen.

If you can find Newhook to record a point, that is the safer play for a player that is riding the coattails of his superstar linemates, but +340 at Caesars for Newhook to score against a terrible Flyers team is worth a play, too.

BetMGM has a Newhook goal priced at +280, while DraftKings is at +285, PointsBet at +300, and FanDuel at +310. Caesars’ offering is nearly 10% better than FanDuel's, and more than 20% better than BetMGM's. That's a significant difference here.

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Avalanche-Flyers picks made 12/5/2022 at 1 p.m. ET.