Now isn't this a puck of a match, eh? Anaheim Ducks quacking their way into Colorado Avalanche's icy territory. Let's roll through the rosters, shall we?
In goal for the Ducks, we've got Lukas Dostal, who's been saving more than just his pocket money with a stellar 93.3% save rate last month and a solid performance from last year to boot. James Reimer ain't no second string either, his cushiony mitts clubbed away 90.6% of shots recently.
Avalanche is banking on save-a-lot duo Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen. Georgiev, bless his soul needs to tighten those gloves a bit with a shaky 80.2% save rate this season. Annunen, on the other hand, was sharper than a polar bear’s claws last season with a commendable 92.8% save rate.
Skating up for the Ducks, we've got Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. Terry, who pocketed a couple of goals last month and Zegras, not to be outdone, chipped in with a goal and an assist. Pavel Mintyukov, putting up some serious numbers for the Ducks this season, can't get more frosty than that.
On the Avs side, we're gawking at Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar – a powerhouse pair with a combined 2 goals and 13 assists. But let's not forget Mikko Rantanen, throwing up a storm with 4 goals and 3 assists. Frostbite can’t beat them.
Past matchups? About as balanced as an Olympic figure skater. In their last five meetings, Colorado got the cold push in three games, Anaheim two.
Despite their performances, Avs are struggling with a chilly run, with four losses in the regular season and a veritable trail of sweaters from recent games. Ducks, on the other hand, are hot on the feathers with two wins and a superior recent game run.
Some people might sell ice to an Eskimo, but I'm not one to quibble with hard stats and past performances. So without further ado, let me lay my prediction on you.
Albert’s Prediction: Anaheim Ducks by 2