Minnesota Wild V Colorado Avalanche NHL Betting Prediction

There are a few different paths that a team can take to the NHL playoffs, none of which are particularly easy. The best way to go is to win the division, which usually ensures home ice advantage for some portion of the postseason. The rest of the teams who can’t win their division are forced to scrap for every single point, with playoff races often going down to the last game of the season. If that is the route that needs to be taken, then having control of your own destiny is the best possible way to go. The Minnesota Wild, who hold the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, are in that rather fortunate position at the moment, and they have the chance to take real control on Saturday afternoon when they face their Central Division rivals the Colorado Avalanche. It looks as though the final Wild Card position is going to come down to one of those two teams, and a win for either could really shake things up. This is a huge game, and you can find the NHL odds for this match at MyBookie.ag.

Minnesota Wild V Colorado Avalanche NHL Betting Prediction

When: Saturday, March 26 at 3 PM EST Where: Pepsi Center, Denver TV: FSN and ALT NHL Money Line: Minnesota -125

Why bet on the Minnesota Wild

The Wild (36-28-11) have decided to get hot at just the right time, and have now opened up a 3-point lead on the Avalanche for the final playoff spot in the West. They come into this one having won 4-straight, and they have taken down a couple of very good teams during that run, including the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks. You feel that a win on Saturday, which would open up a 5-point gap, might just be the blow that finally does in the Avs, especially with just a handful of games remaining in the regular season. Minnesota have taken 3 of 4 from Colorado this season, and are a game above .500 on the road. The Wild are averaging 2.7 GPG, and are giving up 2.5 GPG.

Why bet on the Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche (38-32-4) have not been playing that poorly of late, but it seems that every loss they take seems to coincide with a Wild win. That is exactly what happened the other night when the Avs went down to the Flyers while Minnesota were trouncing the Calgary Flames. Colorado are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, and while you may think that they have the benefit of home ice advantage for this one, it is worth noting that they have played better on the road. The Wild are one of the teams that they have had some real problems with this season, and Colorado would need to buck a losing trend in order to win here. The Avalanche are averaging 2.6 GPG, and are giving up 2.8 GPG.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is perhaps the biggest game of the season for both of these teams, and both really need a win on order to help their playoff drives. Given the recent results between these two, I have to give the slight edge to the Wild. Minnesota Wild 4 Colorado Avalanche 3