Two clubs that are squaring off for the fourth and final time this year, the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild collide at the Xcel Energy Center in a divisional matchup. The opening face-off takes place at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13, and it can be seen live on NBC Sports Network.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (-165) is currently favored over Colorado (+145), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
Minnesota is 39-30 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. That win percentage, ranked third in the Central Division so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team produced during last year’s regular season (49-33). Through 69 regular season matches, 36 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 24-11 SU at home this season.
The Wild have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Wild have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their past ten outings. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 5.9 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Boasting a .917 save percentage and 27.3 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (31-19-5) has been the top goalkeeper for Minnesota this season. If head coach Bruce Boudreau chooses to give him a rest, however, Minnesota might turn to Alex Stalock (9-16-16 record, .912 save percentage, 2.83 goals against average).
The Wild will continue relying on offensive production from Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund. Staal (68 points) has tallied 37 goals and 31 assists and has recorded multiple points on 17 different occasions this year. Granlund has 19 goals and 38 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 36 contests.
Colorado is 36-32 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 8.7 units this season. A total of 37 of its contests have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just four have pushed. The Avalanche are 12-22 SU as an away team this season.
The Avalanche have converted on 20.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.4 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s players have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, 4.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Semyon Varlamov (28.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov has 20 wins, 22 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, while registering a .913 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will be coordinated by Nathan MacKinnon, who has 49 assists and 32 goals this season.
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Minnesota (3-2 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. Colorado has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
The total has gone over in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
Minnesota’s attempted 30.4 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 25th in the NHL), and 34.0 in their last five home outings.
Five of Colorado’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-1 in those games.
—–
