Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/16/2026

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Friday, January 16, 2026

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Predators +245, Avalanche -305; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Predators +250, Avalanche -300; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Predators +240, Avalanche -300; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Nashville Predators:  22-20-4 (5th place, Central Division)

Colorado Avalanche:  33-4-8 (1st place, Central Division)

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Nashville Predators:  6-4-0 last 10

Colorado Avalanche:  7-2-1 last 10

The Predators are entering this game with 48 points, a 22-20-4 record overall, and they are 9-10-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Edmonton Oilers in their last game, winning that one at home 4-3 in overtime. Roman Josi led the team in goals scored with 2 while Erik Haula and Steven Stamkos each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Adam Wilsby, Brady Skjei, Matthew Wood, Michael Bunting, Nick Blankenburg, and Ryan O'Reilly each led the team in assists with 1 while Erik Haula led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Juuse Saros was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 31 shots with 28 saves and a .903 save percentage. Their offense has scored 129 goals this season averaging 2.8 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 151 goals against them allowing 3.3 goals per game.

The Avalanche are entering this game with 74 points, a 33-4-8 record overall, and they are 19-0-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their last game, losing that one at home 4-3 in overtime. Cale Makar, Martin Nečas, and Brock Nelson each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Cale Makar and Martin Nečas each led the team in assists with 1 while Martin Nečas and Ross Colton each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Trent Miner was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 31 shots with 27 saves and a .903 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 182 goals this season averaging 4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 103 goals against them allowing 2.3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked great in their games this season with their 33-4-8 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the West with the best record in the entire NHL. They have looked great on home ice too with their 19-0-3 home record this year. Meanwhile, the Predators haven't looked great in their games this season with their 22-20-4 record overall which has them in the bottom half of their division in the West. They have been a bad road team too with their 9-10-2 road record this season. The Predators were one of the worst teams in the NHL last season and they have improved a lot this year. They are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games and they are off a home win over the Oilers in their last one, but now they go on the road against the best team in the NHL and this Avalanche team is a whole different animal. As good as the Predators have looked lately, they haven't had a good defense this season, giving up a lot more goals than they have scored, and that is going to be a big issue in this game. The Avalanche have the best offense in the NHL as they are the only team in the league averaging over 4 goals scored per game, and they also have one of the best defenses too as they don't give up many goals either. They have also been rolling lately as they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, but they are off a rare home loss to the Maple Leafs in their last one and will be looking to bounce back here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game and on the puckline. 

Predators Avalanche Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, January 16, 2026 (9:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 6 Predators 1.

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Nashville Predators: 101-115 (-22.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 30-33 (-5.5 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss vs opponent as a road favorite. 19-32 (-8.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 34-21 UNDER versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.5+ goals/game.

Colorado Avalanche: 79-30 (+24 units) on the moneyline as a home favorite. 44-9 (+26.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%). 77-35 (+12.7 units) on the moneyline against terrible defensive teams - allowing 3+ goals/game. 19-12 UNDER at home when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%). 

Nashville Predators:  N. Hague (D) Day To Day - Illness. J. Marchessault (C) Out - Lower Body. O. Wiesblatt (RW) Out - Upper Body.

Colorado Avalanche:  D. Toews (D) Out - Upper-Body. J. Kiviranta (LW) Out - Lower Body. G. Landeskog (LW) Out - Upper-Body. L. O'Connor (RW) Out - Hip.

“We worked really hard. A month and a half, two months ago, we were really far behind and way out of a playoff spot, and we kind of rallied and came back. Now we’re close to a playoff spot, which is huge. It shows the hard work we’ve put in. We’ve just got to keep it going though. We’re in a fight, and it’s going to be hard until the end.” - Roman Josi after their win against the Oilers in their game on Tuesday. 

“Evenly played game, probably. Even first, they beat us in the second. I thought we were better in the third, but you got to play a full 60 if you want to win. It's just that simple. So, we weren't quite there tonight.” - Jared Bednar after his team’s loss against the Maple Leafs in their game on Monday.

LW Filip Forsberg

C Ryan O'Reilly

RW Luke Evangelista

LD Roman Josi

RD Nicklaus Perbix

G Juuse Saros

LW Artturi Lehkonen

C Nathan MacKinnon

RW Martin Necas

LD Sam Malinski

RD Cale Makar

G Scott Wedgewood

Points: Ryan O'Reilly (39)

Goals: Steven Stamkos (20)

Assists: Ryan O'Reilly (26)

GAA: Juuse Saros (2.93)

Points: Nathan MacKinnon (81)

Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (36)

Assists: Nathan MacKinnon (45)

GAA: Mackenzie Blackwood (2.07)

Coaches:

Nashville Predators: Andrew Brunette (3rd season)

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (10th season)