The Minnesota Wild (43-22-9) visit the Colorado Avalanche (44-23-6) Wednesday. Puck drop from Ball Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Wild vs. Avalanche odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Wild picked up a 5-1 win against the Seattle Kraken last time out on home ice, pushing on the total at most shops. Minnesota has posted a 15-1-4 record across the past 20 games dating back to Feb. 15, a 3-2 loss on home ice against the Avalanche.
Colorado trails Minnesota by 1 point in the Central Division, although the Avalanche have a game in hand. Colorado has been hot lately, too, winning 9 of the past 10 games overall.
The Avs not only won in Minnesota Feb. 15, but Colorado posted a 6-3 win Oct. 17 in the first regular-season meeting, also in the Twin Cities.
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Wild at Avalanche odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:29 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Wild +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Avalanche -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Wild +1.5 (-200) | Avalanche -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Wild at Avalanche projected goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury (24-13-4, 2.81 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (34-15-5, 2.54 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO)
Fleury allowed just a single goal on 36 shots last time out against the Kraken, putting an ugly 5-4 SOL against the Philadelphia Flyers in the rearview mirror in the outing prior. He is still 6-0-1 with a 2.56 GAA and .928 SV% in 7 starts in the month of March.
Fleury was on the short end of that 3-2 loss against the Avs Feb. 15, allowing 3 goals on just 19 shots in the loss.
Georgiev allowed 3 goals on 30 shots in a SOW on the road against the Arizona Coyotes last time out, and he improved to 8-3-1 with a 2.41 GAA and .909 SV% with 2 SO in the month of March.
The Bulgarian tendy stopped 41 of the 43 shots he faced in Minnesota in a victory Feb. 15, and he also allowed just 3 goals on 39 shots in the 6-3 win back in mid-October.
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Wild at Avalanche picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 3, Wild 2
Moneyline
The AVALANCHE (-155) is the play in this super important battle for 1st place in the Central Division.
Colorado has won 4 straight meetings on home ice against Minnesota, and the Avalanche are 7-3 in the past 10 meetings in the series. The home team has cashed in 5 of the past 7 in the series, too.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Wild +1.5 (-200) is a little on the pricey side if you need insurance and can’t bring yourself to play Minnesota straight up. It’s not worth it.
While Minnesota has been hot lately, you can’t bet it until the Wild show they can beat the Avalanche on a regular basis. There hasn’t been any sign of that lately.
PASS.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (+105) at plus-money is a value in the Mile High City.
While the Over has dominated for Minnesota lately, the Under is 22-6-1 in the past 29 when playing on a day of rest. The Under is also 4-1-1 in the past 6 meetings in this series.
The Under has dominated for the Avalanche lately, too, going 5-2 in the past 7 home games, while cashing at a 13-3-2 clip in the past 18 against Central Division teams. The Under is 18-8-3 in the previous 29 against teams with a winning record, too.
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For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.
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