NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets for the opening game and series between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche.
Minnesota Wild (+155) at Colorado Avalanche (-190)
Total 6 (Under, -122)
Game 1
9 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Wild knocked off the Dallas Stars in round one for their first playoff series win since 2015 and will seek to win two playoff rounds for only the second time in franchise history (2003 won two rounds). There was a cost for the Wild as they suffered injuries to a pair of key players. Defenseman Jonas Brodin did not make the trip for games one and two and center Joel Eriksson Ek is questionable after suffering an injury in the game six clincher against Dallas. His absence presents a matchup problem for who does the Wild play against Nathan MacKinnon. Colorado hasn’t made it past the second round since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Jesper Wallstedt appeared in three of the four games versus Colorado (1-1-1), giving up 11 goals on 134 shots. His counterpart at the other end, Scott Wedgewood, played in two of the four games, giving up just four goals on 81 shots. Wedgewood was solid in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings, giving up just five goals.
Nathan MacKinnon (four goals) and Martin Necas (three goals) led the Avs against the Wild in the regular season, while captain Gabe Landeskog was one of four Avalanche players who led the team with two goals in the opening round against the Kings. Though Landeskog plays on the third line, he is on the top power play unit. His goal prop at (+360) has tremendous value. Matt Boldy led the Wild in both goals (6) and shots on goal (33) in round one against the Dallas Stars. He scored twice in the four regular season meetings versus Colorado and his 22 shots on goal led all Minnesota players. Lastly, the Wild gave up 10 power play goals to Dallas in round one on 25 chances (60%). I will take a shot with Colorado scoring at least one tonight.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nathan MacKinnon 5+ shots (+115) – 1.5 units
Nathan MacKinnon 6+ shots (+230) – .10 units
Nathan MacKinnon 2+ shots, Boldy 1+ shots/1st period (+202) – ½ unit
Gabriel Landeskog anytime goal (+360) – .10 units
Matt Boldy anytime goal (+155) – .10 units
Matt Boldy 4+ shots on goal (-140) – ½ unit
Boldy 3+ shots on goal/MacKinnon 4+ shots on goal/Avs ML (+170) – 1 unit
Colorado Avalanche to score a Power Play Goal (-130) – ½ unit
Series plays
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 games (-105) – 2 units
Colorado Avalanche 4-1 (+350) – ½ unit
Colorado Avalanche 4-2 (+370) – ½ unit
Matt Boldy most shots on goal (+600) – ¼ unit
Matt Boldy 2+ shots on goal in every game (-110) – 3 units
Matt Boldy 3+ shots on goal in every game (+400) (11 of 12 vs Colorado) – ½ unit
Gabe Landeskog to lead the series in goals (40/1) – .10 units
Cale Makar to lead the series in points (+900) – .10 units
