ESPN’s nationally televised game for the evening portion of tonight's NHL slate features a Central Division tilt between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild. NHL odds have Colorado as a heavy -196 favorite while the total sits at 6.5.
Find out how I want to back the favorite in my free NHL picks and Wild vs. Avalanche predictions on Tuesday, April 9.
Wild vs Avalanche prediction
My best bet
Avalanche -1.5 (+125 at FanDuel)
My analysis
Tonight presents a good opportunity to buy low on the Colorado Avalanche after losing two straight games and five of seven. The Avs are still arguably the best team in the league, and they will get back on track sooner than later.
Sooner arrives tonight against the inferior Minnesota Wild. These teams just squared off less than a week ago, a game in which the Avalanche coasted to a 5-2 victory. I expect a similar result tonight with goaltender Filip Gustavsson slated to guard the cage for Minnesota. He was also in net for that game last week, allowing four goals on 35 shots for a .886 SV%.
He is now 1-4-1 with a .900 SV% and 3.71 GAA through six career starts against Colorado. It shouldn’t be too shocking that Gustavsson has struggled against this powerhouse Avalanche offense, given that they rank in the Top 5 of the league in goals, shots per game, and shooting percentage.
This success stems from the fact that they create high-danger scoring chances at an elite level, ranking third in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60). The same cannot be said of the Wild, who rank 11 spots lower in the same category.
Not only does Colorado possess the offense advantage in this game, but it also ranks higher than Minnesota in goals allowed per game, penalty kill percentage, and penalty minutes taken per game. Finally, the Avs have won 10 of the past 14 meetings between these two teams with an average winning margin of 2.4 goals.
Wild vs Avalanche same-game parlay
Avalanche -1.5
Valeri Nichushkin anytime goalscorer
If we are backing Colorado to win by more than one, then we need some pucks to find the back of the net. There is perhaps not a better candidate to do so than forward Valeri Nichushkin.
Leading the team in power-play goals, nearly 58% of Nichushkin’s tallies this year have come on the man-advantage. That bodes well against Minnesota, a team that ranks in the Bottom 4 of the league in both penalty minutes taken per game and penalty kill percentage.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Wild vs Avalanche odds
Wild vs Avalanche live odds
Wild vs Avalanche opening odds
- Puck line: Minnesota +1.5 (-150) | Colorado -1.5 (+125)
- Moneyline: Minnesota +165 | Colorado -195
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Wild vs Avalanche moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- Colorado opened as a -195 favorite and has since been bet up to -196.
- I think the market will only push this line closer to the two-dollar mark as the Avs are just simply the better team in every facet of the game.
- The total opened at 6.5 and remains at that number at the time of writing.
- I don’t think the market will move from this high total given the Gustavsson vs Georgiev goaltending matchup and Colorado’s high-powered offense.
- With that said, the Over /Under is 3-6-1 over the past 10 meetings between these two teams.
Wild vs Avalanche trend
Three of Colorado’s past four wins have come by at least a two-goal differential, including a 5-2 win over Minnesota last week. Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Avalanche.
Wild vs Avalanche game info
| Location: | Arena, Denver, CO |
| Date: | Tuesday, 4-9-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Wild vs Avalanche latest injuries
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