Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Wild vs Avalanche NHL Odds
Looking for Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Wild taking on the Avalanche on Wednesday February 24th at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Wild Avalanche matchup.
NHL Handicapping Analysis
(9-6-0) Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche (9-5-1)
Date: Wednesday, February 24th
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver CO
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Wild +165| Avalanche -190
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Avalanche (-1.5) +135
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
Oddsmakers really like Colorado at home in this one, offering just a +135 payout even on the puck line. That seems strange against a Minnesota team that has won three straight, and are a decent 5-5 over their last 10.
Colorado just gone with a 4-game set against Vegas, including the Lake Tahoe Outdoors game. The teams split that series 2-2, but the Avs are still a solid 6-3-1 over their last 10 games.
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is a big underdog on Wednesday despite their recent hot streak. Granted the competition hasn’t been the greatest with two victories over Anaheim, and beating San Jose 6-2 on Monday. The two worst teams in the West.
Wins are wins though, and the Wild offense has looked good with 14 goals over the last three games. Kevin Fiala has three goals in the last three, while Victor Rask and Mats Zuccarello scoring in the last two.
Zucarrello’s season debut four games ago has been a huge lift for Minnesota. The right-winger also had 3 assists in the win over the Sharks and already has 6 points in his four games.
We’ll likely see Kaapo Kopenen in net for Minnesota on Wednesday, as he’s shut down the mediocre offenses of Anaheim and San Jose the last three, allowing 4 total goals. Colorado’s attack is a different animal though.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado dominated Minnesota 5-1 on January 30th, but the Wild played well in the next two games winning 4-3 in OT and then losing 2-1. Basically these teams match up too well for the Avs to be a -190 favorite.
The vaunted Avalanche offense also got shut out twice in their recent 4-game stretch with Vegas. Granted the Golden Knights have one of the best defenses in the league, but Marc-Andre Fleury owned the Avs the last week.
Colorado has now been held to 2 goals or less in 3 of their 5, does that mean a breakout is coming? The Avs are pelting the 5th most shots in the league this year, but are still just 11th in scoring – way up from a season ago.
What Jared Bednar’s squad has done is pride themselves on an improved defense this year. Philipp Grubauer has led the Avs to the 2nd fewest goals allowed per game at just 2.1. Colorado gives up the 4th fewest shots and have the 2nd best penalty kill.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Wild are 14-5 in their last 19 road games
- Wild are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record
- Under is 5-2 in Wild last 7 road games
- Avalanche are 5-1 in their last 6 home games
- Under is 5-0 in Avalanche last 5 overall
- Wild are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings in Colorado
Free Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche NHL Prediction:
There’s not much value on Colorado at -190, and even the puck line is on the low side at +135. Kahkonen has been solid in net for Minnesota lately and the Avalanche defense has been great all season long.
Minnesota could easily win this one, as they have momentum. What worries you is the quality of opponents that the Wild have faced in building up that 3-game win streak.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Under 5.5
Colorado could still be a little off kilter after the weird Lake Tahoe game and delay this weekend.
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