Avalanche vs. Wild Odds
| Avalanche Odds | -130 |
| Wild Odds | +110 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (+100/-120) |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
We have a Central Division tilt as the first-place Colorado Avalanche travel to Minnesota to take on the second-place Wild. This is the fourth meeting between these two teams this season and two of the first three meetings saw six or fewer total goals scored.
Will we see another low-scoring affair between these two teams, or will the scoring pick up this time around?
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche enter this contest on the second half of a back-to-back following Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators. The Avalanche are will also be playing their third game in four nights, so we could see some tired legs.
Colorado has seen some low-scoring games recently as there have been six or fewer goals scored in three of their past five games prior to Thursday. Since they are on the second half of a back-to-back, we should expect to see backup goaltender Pavel Francouz between the pipes.
Despite being the backup, Francouz has had a great season and boasts a 0.918 save percentage with 2.52 goals allowed on average. In his one game against Minnesota this season, Francouz stopped 25 of 27 shots (0.926 save percentage).
Colorado's blue line should offer Francouz plenty of protection as the Avalanche currently rank fifth in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). On the flip side, Colorado's offense has gone quiet recently and is only averaging 2.6 goals scored per game over its past five contests prior to Thursday.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild also enter this matchup on the second half of a back-to-back and are playing their third game in four days. Just like Colorado, we could see some tired legs from this Minnesota team.
Minnesota's blue line should be able to protect Marc-Andre Fleury as much as possible in this game as the Wild currently rank second in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). Over their past five contests prior to Thursday, the Wild have only given up three goals per game.
Meanwhile, Minnesota's offense has struggled all season against the Avalanche, averaging just 2.33 goals scored per game over their three matchups. Going against Francouz and a stacked Colorado defense, I would not be surprised if Minnesota lays another dud offensively.
Avalanche vs. Wild Pick
I like this game to stay under the total considering the strong defenses of each team. The public will probably be on the over as you see these two teams and automatically think it'll be high-scoring. However, the metrics suggest they are both better defensively than they are offensively.
The under has hit in two of the first three matchups between these two teams this season and I believe this game will also go under. I would not play this total if it drops to six before puck drop.
Pick: Avalanche/Wild u6.5 (-120) | Play up to (-130)
