PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NHL TOTAL DOMINATION >> SIZZLING 12-2 Past 2 Days!
(NHL) Colorado vs. Minnesota,
Total: 5.00 | 100.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 5.00 | 100.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 11-18-1 Colorado Avalanche have lost three straight and are on the road, looking to slow down the red-hot 18-8-4 Minnesota Wild. Minnesota has won seven in a row and is two wins shy of matching its longest run of nine straight victories, which was established in March 2007.
Colorado: The Avalanche own the fewest points in the NHL with 23 and have surrendered at least three goals in seven of nine games in December, including a 10-1 mauling at Montreal. They come to Minnesota not only on a three-game skid but with 10 losses in their last 12 games (2-9-1). Colorado is hoping for a boost from the return of starting netminder Semyon Varlamov, who will be back in goal following a three-game absence due to a groin injury. Although Varlamov is just 6-12-0 (3.21 GAA / .904 save percentage) on the season, his last start was a 51-save gem in a 3-1 win at Toronto on Dec. 11. "We can play with any team in this league," Varlamov said Monday. "It's just up to us how we want to play, that's the thing."
Minnesota: The Wild have won seven in a row to improve to 18-8-4 on the season and no team in the NHL is allowing fewer goals per game than Minnesota (1.93). Also, only a handful of teams are scoring at a higher rate than the Wild's 2.93 goals per game. One of the key reasons for Minnesota's offensive resurgence has been the play of center Eric Staal, who on Monday was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week. After netting only one tally in a span of 15 games, Staal pumped in four goals and added an assist over the last three contests to boost his team-high totals to 10 goals, 14 assists and 24 points. However, the Wild are where they are because of the play of goalie of Devan Dubnyk. He hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 19 and is 15-6-3 on the season with a 1.62 GAA and a .947 save percentage.
The pick: Dubnyk's been great but also note that the Wild have scored 14 goals in their last three games and Colorado's 3.20 GPG is the highest of any team in the league (Avalanche allow 3.33 GPG on the road). The Over is a 10* play.
Colorado: The Avalanche own the fewest points in the NHL with 23 and have surrendered at least three goals in seven of nine games in December, including a 10-1 mauling at Montreal. They come to Minnesota not only on a three-game skid but with 10 losses in their last 12 games (2-9-1). Colorado is hoping for a boost from the return of starting netminder Semyon Varlamov, who will be back in goal following a three-game absence due to a groin injury. Although Varlamov is just 6-12-0 (3.21 GAA / .904 save percentage) on the season, his last start was a 51-save gem in a 3-1 win at Toronto on Dec. 11. "We can play with any team in this league," Varlamov said Monday. "It's just up to us how we want to play, that's the thing."
Minnesota: The Wild have won seven in a row to improve to 18-8-4 on the season and no team in the NHL is allowing fewer goals per game than Minnesota (1.93). Also, only a handful of teams are scoring at a higher rate than the Wild's 2.93 goals per game. One of the key reasons for Minnesota's offensive resurgence has been the play of center Eric Staal, who on Monday was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week. After netting only one tally in a span of 15 games, Staal pumped in four goals and added an assist over the last three contests to boost his team-high totals to 10 goals, 14 assists and 24 points. However, the Wild are where they are because of the play of goalie of Devan Dubnyk. He hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 19 and is 15-6-3 on the season with a 1.62 GAA and a .947 save percentage.
The pick: Dubnyk's been great but also note that the Wild have scored 14 goals in their last three games and Colorado's 3.20 GPG is the highest of any team in the league (Avalanche allow 3.33 GPG on the road). The Over is a 10* play.
