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The Colorado Avalanche (47-22-6) and Minnesota Wild (36-28-10) tangle Thursday in Minneapolis. The opening faceoff at Xcel Energy Center is slated for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Avalanche vs. Wild odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Avs lead 2-0 after winning a pair of 1-goal games
Colorado lost 4-1 at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. The now-in-2nd-place-in-the-Central Avs are just 1-2-1 over their last 4 games and have been surpassed by the streaking Dallas Stars for the top spot in the division.
Minnesota, which is 0-1-1 against Colorado and and 1-3-1 across its last 5 games against the Avs, is playing its 5th straight game at home. The Wild last played Tuesday, taking down the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Minnesota is 2-0-2 on its homestand.
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Avalanche at Wild odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:01 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Avalanche -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Wild +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche -1.5 (+145) | Wild +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Avalanche at Wild projected goalies
Alexandar Georgiev (37-15-4, 2.85 GAA, .901 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (17-12-5, 2.83 GAA, .901 SV%)
Georgiev was pulled in his last start (March 30 vs. Nashville Predators) after allowing 4 goals in 21 minutes. The Avs netminder has faced Minnesota 5 times over the last 2 seasons, logging a sparkling .932 SV%.
Fleury struggled in his 2 previous outings, but was sharp in allowing just 2 power-play goals in Tuesday’s win over the Sens. The veteran registered 30 saves in the game.
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Avalanche at Wild picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 3, Wild 2
Moneyline
Look for a bounce-back effort from the Avalanche in this game. They have been a bit shot-and-save unlucky in 5-on-5 high-danger chances of late.
The Avs are 6-2-1 across their last 9 against the Wild and that includes 3 straight wins in Minneapolis.
FanDuel Sportsbook offers a better leverage price here. BACK COLORADO -162.
Puck line/Against the spread
STEER CLEAR: Colorado’s last 3 wins over Minnesota have been by 1-goal margins.
Over/Under
The Under is 3-1 across the last 4 series meetings and is 6-2 in Minnesota’s last 8 games.
Both teams have been responsible in shutting down 5-on-5 chances recently. Expect some goaltenders-being undervalued aspect to the public’s betting.
BACK THE UNDER 6 (+100).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
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