The Colorado Avalanche (17-1-5) and Minnesota Wild (13-7-4) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 3:30 p.m. EST at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minn. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Avalanche are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (+110o / -130u). The Avalanche are a -170 favorite to win outright, while the Wild are +145 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Avalanche vs. Wild predictions and NHL picks.
Avalanche vs. Wild Odds, Pick
| Avalanche Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +154 | 6.5 +110o / -130u | -170 |
| Wild Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -185 | 6.5 +110o / -130u | +145 |
- Avalanche vs. Wild Spread: Avalanche -1.5 (+154), Wild +1.5 (-185)
- Avalanche vs. Wild Over/Under: 6.5 (+110o / -130u)
- Avalanche vs. Wild Moneyline: Avalanche -170, Wild +145
Avalanche vs. Wild Preview
Colorado Avalanche
I challenge you to find me a franchise hotter than the Avalanche. Because I genuinely don't think you can.
The last time this team had lost a regulation game was October 25. We're almost in December. Just pure insanity.
Since then, the only two losses that Colorado has suffered have been in overtime, with the last one being on November 1 and currently riding a 10-game win streak.
The three-headed monster in Denver should put fear into opposing teams, and its led by Nathan MacKinnon — the current league leader in both points and goals.
His tandem with Martin Necas has proven to be one of the more deadly duos in the league, while defenseman Cale Makar aims to grab yet another Norris Trophy. It's an embarrassment of riches.
So it should be no surprise that Colorado has the best 5-on-5 team in the league, playing to a 59.37 xGF% since November 8 and the fourth-best power play.
But one more aspect that you can't overlook has been the work of netminder Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood, a career backup, was asked to step up and become the man in charge until Mackenzie Blackwood returned from injury.
Instead, once he returned, it was Wedgewood's job to lose, and now he's playing to a 9.0 GSAx and a .918 SV%.
Minnesota Wild
And if their opponents weren't so devastating, I'd say that the Wild are the hottest team in the league.
With six consecutive wins, Minnesota continues to inch closer in the Central Division. But as long as the Avs keep pulling away, it'll be harder to keep up.
Just this past Wednesday, Minnesota came out on top 4-3 in an overtime win against the Blackhawks, and a lot of that was due to Filip Gustavsson.
Speaking of which, the Wild have an interesting situation placed in front of them, as goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is making a push for real starts, even after Gustavsson signed a five-year extension this past offseason.
I think we see Wallstedt again, because I think, until told otherwise, coach Jon Hynes may keep alternating.
So what happens next? The hope is that the goaltending continues to hold up, because outside of the power play, everything else in front of the net has been subpar.
Since November 8, the Wild are ranked 13th in expected goals with a 47.36 xGF%, and the defense has been quite blah all season long. This time, from the aforementioned date, the defense is 19th in the league with a 2.68 xGA/60.
Avalanche vs. Wild Prediction
This game is pretty evenly matched and considering the high-end goaltending in this battle, I'm willing to go a much different route than I usually do.
In 12 games played this month for the Wild, Minnesota has gone into overtime five times.
Of course I anticipate the Avs getting brought back down to Earth eventually, but it's currently a battle of the powerhouses, with the Wild being one of the stronger teams in the league at home.
The road is where most of Colorado's vulnerabilities get singled out, and since this is in St. Paul, the likelihood of letting Minnesota play to it's style of play shouldn't be off the table.
Let's take this into overtime.
NOTE: There's no quickslip available for this. Find this bet at "60 Minute Line — Draw."
Pick: 60 Minute Line Draw (+340)
