Avalanche vs Wild Picks and Predictions: Scoring Comes Early and Often in Minnesota

The Minnesota Wild have been a complete mess to kick off the 2022-23 campaign, allowing 14 goals through just two games to open the season. 

The Colorado Avalanche don’t have the strongest goaltending either, but their offense remains as explosive and talented as it was in last year's championship run. 

There will be a ton of talented players on the ice between these two teams so our free NHL betting picks and predictions expect a ton of scoring. 

Avalanche vs Wild best odds

Avalanche vs Wild picks and predictions

The Wild are very interesting. They had a very strong season last year, but when you really take a step back and look at this team on paper, they don’t really jump out as a Stanley Cup-contending team. 

Marc-Andre Fleury has had a really tough start to the season as he is currently skating to an 8.36 GAA and a horrendous .776 SV%. This is extremely uncharacteristic of Fleury so it will be interesting to see if he gets the start or if he gets an extra breather. It's such a small sample size, though, that sustained catastrophe in net is unlikely. Still, it's a bad omen with such a potent opposing offense coming to town.

Filip Gustavsson came in to relieve Fleury in each of the first two games and would draw the start if Fleury sits this one out. 

Alexander Georgiev is in his first season with the Avalanche after serving as Igor Shesterkin's backup goaltender for the New York Rangers. Georgiev got a win in his only start, allowing two goals on 17 shots. 

Both of these teams have had weak goaltending and they both feature Top-10 offenses. The Wild have found twine nine times in two games and the Avalanche have eight in their two contests. 

Anytime you get to see Nathan McKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, and Matt Boldy, you’d expect to see a ton of goals. That’s exactly what I think is going to happen with both of these goalies struggling out of the gate. I love the Over.

My best bet: Over 6.5 (-115 at BetMGM)

Avalanche vs Wild moneyline analysis

Minnesota has been able to put the puck in the back of the net but hasn't been able to keep it out of its own. In both of their games, the Wild have not come out ready to play, allowing a combined seven goals in the first period alone and they might struggle yet again against a team as good as the Avalanche. 

The Avs are coming off of a tough loss on the road against the Calgary Flames, they played well despite losing 5-3, but Pavel Francouz didn’t play his best game in goal. The Avs were also in a tough travel spot, going to Calgary a day after thumping the Blackhawks in Colorado.

Colorado’s offense drives the entire team, especially on the power play. The man-advantage unit has been money to start the season, going 5-for-10 on the power play to start the season.

The Wild have been a mess defensively and that is not a good sign when playing against a team as offensively gifted as the Avalanche. The Avs should be able to dominate Minnesota.

Avalanche vs Wild Over/Under analysis

Both teams are so good offensively and it has shown early on this season, especially on the man advantage. Like I previously stated, the Avalanche are converting at a 50% rate, but the Wild are right behind them, going 4-for-10 on the power play. 

Georgiev had a decent first game as a member of the Avalanche, but the Blackhawks aren’t anywhere close to as good as the Wild. Minnesota has nine goals through two games and is going to have to find ways to produce in order to compete against the Avalanche. 

This matchup has all the ingredients for a shootout and that is exactly what I think is going to happen. The Wild have been exposed defensively and the Avalanche should be able to keep that trend going even if it isn't a season-long issue.

Avalanche vs Wild betting trend to know

The Over is 4-1 in the Wild’s last five games. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs Wild.

Avalanche vs Wild game info

Avalanche vs Wild key injuries

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