PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TOTAL DOMINATION >> Won 3 of Last 4 Days!
(NHL) Minnesota vs. Colorado,
Total: 5.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The Colorado Avalanche were far and away the NHL's worst team last season, as the team's 48 points were 21 fewer than the next-lowest point total of any other team (Vancouver had 69 points on the season). However, the Avalanche are far from the NHL's worst team so far in the 2017-18 season, sitting 21-16-3 (45 points) at about the mid-point of the season. Colorado managed only just 22 victories in 2016-17 but enter this contest at home vs. the Wild on a four-game winning streak. A fifth consecutive win and the Avs would match last year's win total for the entire season. The Wild are no pushovers, as they come in playing some of their best hockey of the campaign, winning four of their last five games, plus are as healthy as they have been all season after Nino Niederreiter returned from a five-game absence due to an ankle injury to register a hat trick in Thursday's 6-2 win over Buffalo. Minnesota is 22-16-3 with 47 points (one point out of the West's final wild card spot).
Minnesota: Devan Dubnyk has allowed a total of five goals while posting three victories since returning from a lower-body injury to pass Manny Fernandez (113) for second place on the franchise wins list. Eric Staal has scored three of his team-leading 17 goals in his last five games (he also leads the team with 35 points), while Mikael Granlund has registered eight points in the same span to push his season total to 30. Jared Spurgeon has been quite productive of late, collecting a goal and five assists over his last five contests (now has 21 points) to give the Wild three defensemen with at least 21 points. Ryan Suter (24) and Matt Dumba (21) are the others.
Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon is among the league's scoring leaders after recording two goals and seven assists in his last four games, pushing his team-high total to 49 points. Mikko Rantanen continues to pile up points as well, notching 16 of his 38 in his last 13 contests, while Landeskog has collected 12 (six goals) in his last nine games to increase his season total to 31. Jonathan Bernier (8-7-1, .906 save percentage) started in place of the injured Semyon Varlamov (lower body) on Thursday, turning aside 34 shots en route to his second shutout of the season, and is expected to be in net against Minnesota.
The pick: Both teams enter brimming with confidence but I'll note that Minnesota is allowing 3.48 GPG on the road, while Colorado;s averaging 3.80 GPG at home. That spells a 10* play on the Over for me.
Minnesota: Devan Dubnyk has allowed a total of five goals while posting three victories since returning from a lower-body injury to pass Manny Fernandez (113) for second place on the franchise wins list. Eric Staal has scored three of his team-leading 17 goals in his last five games (he also leads the team with 35 points), while Mikael Granlund has registered eight points in the same span to push his season total to 30. Jared Spurgeon has been quite productive of late, collecting a goal and five assists over his last five contests (now has 21 points) to give the Wild three defensemen with at least 21 points. Ryan Suter (24) and Matt Dumba (21) are the others.
Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon is among the league's scoring leaders after recording two goals and seven assists in his last four games, pushing his team-high total to 49 points. Mikko Rantanen continues to pile up points as well, notching 16 of his 38 in his last 13 contests, while Landeskog has collected 12 (six goals) in his last nine games to increase his season total to 31. Jonathan Bernier (8-7-1, .906 save percentage) started in place of the injured Semyon Varlamov (lower body) on Thursday, turning aside 34 shots en route to his second shutout of the season, and is expected to be in net against Minnesota.
The pick: Both teams enter brimming with confidence but I'll note that Minnesota is allowing 3.48 GPG on the road, while Colorado;s averaging 3.80 GPG at home. That spells a 10* play on the Over for me.
