Two teams squaring off for the first time this season, the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild face off at the Xcel Energy Center for a divisional showdown. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will broadcast the matchup, and the puck drops at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, November 24.
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Odds
Colorado is 11-9 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 20 regular season outings, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team in 2017-18, the Avs are 4-7 SU.
Colorado has converted on 18.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it has successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Colorado has been sent to the penalty box 4.6 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 5.0 per game over its past five contests total, and 4.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The teams been forced to kill penalties 9.8 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
With a .903 save percentage and 30.2 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (7-5-1) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado this year. If Colorado chooses to rest him, however, the team could go with Jonathan Bernier (4-4), who has a .899 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average this year.
The visiting Avalanche have relied on Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen this season. MacKinnon (25 points) has tallied seven goals and 18 assists, and has recorded two or more points seven times. Rantanen has six goals and 13 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 11 games).
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 10-11 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its outings have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 5-5 SU at home this year.
Minnesota has converted on 22.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Minnesota players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (28.1 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk has nine wins, eight losses, and two OT losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 2.66 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this season.
The Wild offense will be led by Eric Staal (seven goals, 12 assists).
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- The Avalanche are 3-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Wild are 4-6 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Minnesota skaters have forced 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 6.4 takeaways per game (ranked 24th overall).
- Colorado is ranked 11th with 8.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as the team has created 7.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.2 takeaways over its last five.
