Avalanche vs Wild Picks, Predictions, and Odds Tonight

Covers

20 February 2023

Avalanche vs Wild Picks, Predictions, and Odds Tonight

Two tired teams collide in Minnesota tonight. The Avalanche just hosted the Lightning last night, while the Wild have seen four of their last seven overall head to either overtime or a shootout. Our NHL expert picks see a low-scoring game unfolding.

The Colorado Avalanche travel to meet the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

It’s a tough turnaround for the Avs, as Colorado just played at home on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, falling 4-3 in a shootout in the Stanley Cup Final rematch. The Wild also suffered a shootout loss the last time they played, losing 2-1 on Monday on home ice to the Florida Panthers as the Under hit.

This is the second of three scheduled regular-season meetings between these clubs, with Colorado picking up a 6-3 win in Minnesota on October 17 in the initial encounter.

Can the Avs snow under the Wild in the Twin Cities, or will Minnesota level the score in the second matchup? We’ll discuss in our free NHL betting picks for Avalanche vs. Wild on Wednesday, February 15.

Avalanche vs Wild best odds

Avalanche vs Wild picks and predictions

The Avalanche have to face the difficulty of traveling and playing again tonight after an emotional shootout loss on home ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning less than 24 hours ago.

The good news for Colorado is that it has lit the lamp eight times in the past two games after a two-game stretch with just one total goal from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9. The bad news for the Avalanche is that backup goaltender Pavel Francouz is dealing with a lower-body injury, and he is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks.

The Francouz injury thrusts either Alexandar Georgiev into the crease for a second straight night after a shootout loss against the Lightning, or Jonas Johansson will make a rare start after seeing just a relief appearance on New Year’s Eve against the Toronto Maple Leafs, stopping all seven of the shots he faced.

For the Wild, win or lose, it has been an adventure lately. Minnesota has been unable to determine a winner in regulation across four of the past seven games, including two shootout wins and a shootout loss.

Minnesota has had a power outage on offense, averaging just 2.1 goals per game (GPG) across the past 10 outings. Even with Colorado’s injury to the backup backstop, the best play in this game is to look to the Under.

The Under is 7-1 across the past eight games for the Wild, and 19-7-2 in the Avs’ last 28 road games.

My best bet: Under 6 (+104 at BetRivers)

Bet NHL bonuses

Looking to do some NHL betting? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:

B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets!

best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Avalanche vs Wild moneyline analysis

The Avalanche hit the road looking for redemption after an unsatisfying shootout loss against the Lightning.

Colorado is an underdog in this one, and that’s usually very good news. The Avs covered the puck line as a ‘dog against the Lightning, despite the SOL, and Colorado is 6-1 on the puck line in the past seven games as an underdog, winning four of those games outright.

The Avalanche are 4-1 in the past five games against teams with a winning record, while going 17-7 in the past 24 games inside the Central Division. The lack of rest hasn’t been an issue, as Colorado is 16-5 in the past 21 games when playing on no rest.

In the first meeting of the season with the Wild on October 17 in St. Paul, Colorado doubled up Minnesota behind Georgiev, as he edged Filip Gustavsson, 6-3.

The Wild are favored, and lately that’s been good news. Minnesota has won six of the past seven games outright as a favorite, although the Wild are just 2-5 on the puck line during those outings.

Minnesota has won only once in the past five games overall, while going 1-4 in the past five games against Western Conference teams, too.

In this series, the favorite is 4-1 in the past five meetings, with the home team 5-1 in the past six. However, my preference is to play the total and avoid more than a half-unit play on the Avalanche to grab a road win.

Avalanche vs Wild Over/Under analysis

Both of these teams have been cashing the Under at a dizzying clip, and that’s the best play on the board in this Central tilt in the Twin Cities, too.

The Under is a ridiculous 8-1-1 in the past 10 games inside the Central for the Avalanche, while going an impressive 18-6-2 in the past 26 games against teams with a winning record. The Avs have gone low in 10 of the past 13 games when playing on no rest, too, while going 15-5-2 in the past 22 against Western Conference clubs.

For the Wild, it’s also all about the Under. Minnesota has cashed the Under at an 11-1-1 clip in its last 13 home games, while going 5-0 in its past five on a day of rest, and 4-0 in its past four inside the Central Division. The Under is 4-1 in the Wild’s past five against winning teams, too, while going 18-7-2 in their last 27 games overall.