The Colorado Avalanche (26-8-4) play Game 2 of a two-game set at the Minnesota Wild (23-12-2) Wednesday with a 9 p.m. ET puck drop at Xcel Energy Center. Below, we analyze the Avalanche-Wild odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Avalanche outmuscled the Wild by a 5-4 score Monday in the front end of the double dip. They have won five consecutive games, and they’re averaging 4.8 goals per game during the five-game win streak while yielding 2.4 goals per outing.
The Wild are looking to snap a personal three-game losing skid to the Avalanche. Minnesota made its closest pass Monday, losing 5-4 after getting destroyed by a combined 11-1 score in a two-game sweep in Denver in mid-March.
Avalanche at Wild: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Avalanche -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Wild +160 (bet $100 to win $160)
- Against the spread/ATS: Avalanche -1.5 (+135) | Wild +1.5 (-160)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
Avalanche at Wild: Projected starting goalies
Philipp Grubauer (24-7-1, 1.83 GAA, .926 SV%, 5 SO) vs. Cam Talbot (11-6-2, 2.41 GAA, .924 SV%, 2 SO)
Grubauer has won four consecutive starts, although he certainly allowed more goals (4) than usual in the front end of this double dip. He has a career-high 24 wins, and he has made a living off of the Wild. Grubauer improved to 5-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .919 SV% with one shutout in six starts vs. Minnesota this season.
Talbot lost in regulation Monday for the first time since March 18, which also just happened to be in Denver against the Avalanche. He is 7-0-1 since March 12 if you take out his two starts against Colorado. Talbot is 1-3-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .898 SV% in four starts against the Avalanche this season.
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Avalanche at Wild: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Avalanche 5, Wild 3
Money line (ML)
The AVALANCHE (-190) are a little on the pricey side, but I’ll make an exception to go over my usual limit of -180. Colorado has just been on fire lately, winning five in a row with powerful displays of offense. However, I like the money line better than the puck line as each of the past three wins have been by one goal.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Avalanche -1.5 (+135) have won five in a row, but they haven’t covered the puck line in each of the past three. Just play the money line.
PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 5.5 (-125) is just 3-2 in the past five overall for the Avalanche, but 9-3 across the past 12 games. That includes each of their past three meetings with the Wild. Minnesota has also cashed the Over in three of the past five overall.
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