Red Wings vs. Avalanche Recap: Blackwood Shutout, Five SOG Props Cash

The Colorado Avalanche shut out the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 in regulation. The 1st period was scoreless. Colorado broke through on the power play in the 2nd: Martin Necas scored at 9:46 and Nathan MacKinnon added a slap shot at 12:30. Necas got his second at 7:15 of the 3rd at even strength, and Cale Makar finished it with another power-play goal at 9:45 of the 3rd. Shots were close at 29-27 for Colorado, but the Avalanche scored on 3 of their 5 power plays while Detroit went without a goal on its 3. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all 27 shots he faced for the shutout, and Daniil Tarasov made 25 saves on 29 shots for Detroit. Five DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Lucas Raymond 2+ shots on goal (-290 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Raymond had 2+ shots on goal in all of his last 10 and 16 of 17 games this season. We also noted that Dylan Larkin was out for Detroit on a suspension. - What happened: He put 2 SOG on net in 18:23 (3:05 on the power play), clearing the line by 0.5 on a night Detroit never scored. - Worth watching: Even in a shutout loss he got his two shots. His floor is the angle, but at -290 the price leaves very little room.

T.J. Hughes 2+ shots on goal (-235 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Hughes had 2+ shots on goal in 9 of his last 10 and 13 of 17 games this season, including all of his last 5. - What happened: He had 4 SOG and 5 hits in 17:09, clearing the line by 2.5. He also had the primary assist on Necas's power-play goal at 9:46 of the 2nd that opened the scoring. - Worth watching: He played 5:45 on the power play. That role is what supports his shot volume, so it is worth checking that he keeps it.

Artturi Lehkonen 2+ shots on goal (-175 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Lehkonen had 2+ shots on goal in 9 of his last 10 and 11 of 17 games this season, including all of his last 5. - What happened: He had 2 SOG in 16:26 and cleared the line by 0.5. - Worth watching: He played only 1:21 on the power play, so his shot volume leans on even-strength minutes. That makes this a thinner angle than the Colorado skaters with bigger power-play roles.

Cale Makar 2+ shots on goal (-360 at FanDuel, -320 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Makar cleared 2+ shots on goal in 13 of 15 games this season, averaging 2.9. - What happened: He had 1 G, 2 A, 2 SOG in 22:43 (6:00 on the power play), clearing the line by 0.5. One of those shots was his power-play goal at 9:45 of the 3rd, and he assisted on both of Colorado's power-play goals in the 2nd. - Worth watching: Two shots was under his season average, so this one cleared by the smallest margin. The six minutes of power-play time keep the volume there, but the price is steep.

Nazem Kadri 2+ shots on goal (-270 at FanDuel and DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Kadri cleared 2+ shots on goal in 14 of 17 games this season, averaging 2.5. - What happened: He had 3 SOG in 17:24 (4:41 on the power play) and cleared the line by 1.5. - Worth watching: He got above his season average with steady power-play time. That usage is the thing to check before the next game.

How the game played out

Special teams decided it. Colorado scored three power-play goals, two of them in a span under three minutes in the 2nd, while Detroit went 0 on 3 with the man advantage. Blackwood handled the rest, turning away all 27 Detroit shots. Colorado also won 62.8 percent of the faceoffs.

Trends to watch

• Makar (6:00), Hughes (5:45) and Kadri (4:41) all had real power-play time, and Colorado's power play scored three times.
• Detroit took 19 penalty minutes, and Colorado had 5 power plays.
• Tarasov faced 29 shots and allowed 4 goals. Blackwood saw 27 and allowed none.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More at NHL picks, NHL recaps and how to read American odds.