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The Colorado Avalanche (28-19-5) meet the Minnesota Wild (28-20-5) Wednesday at XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (TNT).
The Avalanche were tripped up 4-3 in a shootout in Denver Tuesday night and now face the quick turnaround to the Twin Cities. Colorado has managed a 2-2-2 mark in the last 6 games, including 1-1-1 in the last 3 road outings.
The Wild are on a 1-3-1 skid in the 5 games since the All-Star break, including a 3-2 SOL against the visiting Florida Panthers on Monday. The Under is on a 7-1 run in the last 8 games for Minnesota.
Colorado won the 1st meeting this season 6-3 in Minnesota on Oct. 17. The final regular-season meeting is March 29 in Colorado.
Avalanche at Wild odds
- Moneyline (ML): Avalanche +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Wild -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche +1.5 (-220) | Wild -1.5 (+160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -130 | U: +110)
Avalanche at Wild projected goalies
Alexandar Georgiev (21-12-3, 2.68 GAA, .918 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (16-12-3, 2.98 GAA, .902 SV%, 1 SO)
Georgiev is likely to be pressed into back-to-back duty, as Pavel Francouz is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a lower-body injury Jonas Johansson could be an option to give the starter a breather, but he has been limited to a lone appearance this season at the NHL level.
Fleury allowed 5 goals on 23 shots through 2 periods last time out on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. He has allowed 8 goals on 59 shots in 2 starts in February to date, both losses.
Avalanche at Wild picks and predictions
Prediction
Avalanche 3, Wild 2
Moneyline
The AVALANCHE (+115) are in a tough spot with the quick turnaround after playing at home Tuesday night. However, the Wild (-135) are too risky, as Fleury has been very giving in a pair of starts against Vegas and Arizona since returning from the All-Star break.
Colorado has posted a 4-1 mark in the last 5 games against winning teams, while going 17-7 in the last 24 games inside the Central Division, while going 16-5 in the last 21 games when playing on no rest.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Avalanche +1.5 (-220) will cost you over 2 times your potential return, and that’s just too risky. If you like Colorado, play it straight up or don’t bother.
AVOID.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (+110) is a strong play at plus-money.
The Under is 11-1-1 in the last 13 home games for the Wild, while going 4-1 in the last 5 games against teams with a winning overall record.
The Under is 19-7-2 in the last 28 road games for the Avalanche, while going 10-3 in the last 13 games when playing on no rest. The Under is 8-1-1 in the last 10 for the Avs inside the Central Division, too.