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Senators vs. Avalanche prediction: Why Colorado is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [1/8/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Ottawa Senators vs Colorado Avalanche predictions for NHL Thursday.
NHL action continues on Thursday at 9:00 PM ET as the Ottawa Senators take on the favored Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
Based on updated simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Avalanche as the most likely winner of the Senators vs. Avalanche game.
This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Senators vs. Avs prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL game between the Senators and Avalanche 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Avalanche a 68% chance of beating the Senators.
According to our model, the Senators (+1.5) have a 53% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 51% chance of staying under.
Senators vs. Avalanche odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Senators | Avalanche |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-102) | -1.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | +235 | -275 |
| Total | o6.5 (-122) | u6.5 (+105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Senators vs. Avalanche picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Senators +1.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Senators | +235 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | +105 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Senators +1.5 at the spread.
Senators vs. Avalanche player props
Who will score a goal in Senators vs. Avalanche?
According to our model, Nathan MacKinnon is most likely to score an anytime goal in Senators vs. Avalanche.
Our projections give MacKinnon a 42.5% chance of scoring a goal at Ball Arena, while the star is an 8.7% chance of registering the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Ottawa Senators
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tim Stutzle | 28.7% |
| Brady Tkachuk | 27.4% |
| Drake Batherson | 25.1% |
| Shane Pinto | 21.4% |
| Dylan Cozens | 19.1% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 42.5% |
| Brock Nelson | 40.7% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 38.7% |
| Martin Necas | 35.0% |
| Artturi Lehkonen | 30.4% |
First goal scorer predictions
Ottawa Senators
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Brady Tkachuk | 5.1% |
| Tim Stutzle | 5.1% |
| Drake Batherson | 4.2% |
| Shane Pinto | 3.9% |
| Dylan Cozens | 3.6% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 8.7% |
| Brock Nelson | 8.3% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 7.7% |
| Martin Necas | 6.8% |
| Artturi Lehkonen | 6.0% |
Senators vs. Avs game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's matchup between the Avalanche and Senators at Ball Arena is scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM ET.
- Who: Ottawa Senators vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
- Venue: Ball Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Avalanche, with a 68% win probability, will likely beat the Senators on Thursday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Senators vs. Avalanche insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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