PREMIUM
**$20 TUESDAY** >> Rogers' NHL PLAY OF THE DAY!
(NHL) Colorado vs. Minnesota,
Money Line: -165.00 Minnesota (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -165.00 Minnesota (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 39-23-7 Minnesota Wild had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 4-1 setback at Edmonton on Saturday but they still hold a three-point edge over Dallas for third place in the Central Division (85-to-82). Minnesota is 24-5-6 at Xcel Energy Arena (that's the fewest regulation home losses of any NHL team) and will welcome the 36-24-8 Colorado Avalanche (80 points) to town on Tuesday night. The Avs have made a remarkable turnaround from last season (fewest wins with 22 and fewest points with 48) and Colorado comes in 4-0-3 over its last seven games and now trails Dallas by just two points for the top wild card.
Colorado: The Avs have thrashed the Wild twice in 2018, 7-2 on March 2 and 7-1 back on Jan. 6. However, both games were played in Denver. Nathan MacKinnon kept up his torrid pace by setting up two goals in Saturday's 5-2 win over Arizona, giving him 20 points over his last 10 games and pushing his season total to 81 (note: he has amassed eight points in the last two wins over the Wild!). Linemate Mikko Rantanen (23 goals & 69 points) is on a tear of his own with 13 points over the past seven games, including a goal and three assists in the demolition of the Wild on March 2. However, the Colorado goaltending situation is in flux. Jonathan Bernier (18-11-2, 2.81 GAA & .914 SP) made his return from a three-week absence due to a concussion on Saturday but had to leave Saturday's 5-2 win over the Coyotes when he took a puck to the head. If he cannot go in Minnesota and has to miss time, Semyon Varlamov (18-13-6, 2.85 GAA & .913 SP) should fill the gap in the crease, nicely.
Minnesota; Forward Eric Staal was held off the scoresheet in Edmonton but he has been on a goal-scoring binge, tallying 11 times over the past 10 games to boost his season total to 37 (68 points). Granlund's 57 points are second behind Staal and Zucker's 28 goals are second-best on the team. Charlie Coyle (10 goals & 31 points) followed a 12-game goal drought by scoring in back-to-back contests. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk is 19-3-5 at home with a goals-against average (2.14) that is more than one lower than on the road (3.22), with the latter mark inflated in part by the two losses at Colorado, in which he yielded 11 goals and was yanked each time.
The pick: Both teams are fighting to stay alive in the playoff picture but the edge has to go to the Wild in this one. "I think it's in the back of your mind for sure, they spanked us pretty good twice in their barn," Minnesota forward Eric Staal said regarding his team getting pounded twice this year in Denver. "The big picture, most important thing is the two points, regardless of who we're playing against. But there's a little extra in there because of how we've played the last two games against them in Colorado." The Avs are a sub-.500 team on the road (12-16-6), where they are allowing a whopping 3.53 GPG. I've already noted Dubnyk's home numbers (see above for a reminder) and will add here that the Wild have outscored opponents 3.37-to-2.14 GPG on home ice, so far. Make the Wild an 8* play.
Colorado: The Avs have thrashed the Wild twice in 2018, 7-2 on March 2 and 7-1 back on Jan. 6. However, both games were played in Denver. Nathan MacKinnon kept up his torrid pace by setting up two goals in Saturday's 5-2 win over Arizona, giving him 20 points over his last 10 games and pushing his season total to 81 (note: he has amassed eight points in the last two wins over the Wild!). Linemate Mikko Rantanen (23 goals & 69 points) is on a tear of his own with 13 points over the past seven games, including a goal and three assists in the demolition of the Wild on March 2. However, the Colorado goaltending situation is in flux. Jonathan Bernier (18-11-2, 2.81 GAA & .914 SP) made his return from a three-week absence due to a concussion on Saturday but had to leave Saturday's 5-2 win over the Coyotes when he took a puck to the head. If he cannot go in Minnesota and has to miss time, Semyon Varlamov (18-13-6, 2.85 GAA & .913 SP) should fill the gap in the crease, nicely.
Minnesota; Forward Eric Staal was held off the scoresheet in Edmonton but he has been on a goal-scoring binge, tallying 11 times over the past 10 games to boost his season total to 37 (68 points). Granlund's 57 points are second behind Staal and Zucker's 28 goals are second-best on the team. Charlie Coyle (10 goals & 31 points) followed a 12-game goal drought by scoring in back-to-back contests. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk is 19-3-5 at home with a goals-against average (2.14) that is more than one lower than on the road (3.22), with the latter mark inflated in part by the two losses at Colorado, in which he yielded 11 goals and was yanked each time.
The pick: Both teams are fighting to stay alive in the playoff picture but the edge has to go to the Wild in this one. "I think it's in the back of your mind for sure, they spanked us pretty good twice in their barn," Minnesota forward Eric Staal said regarding his team getting pounded twice this year in Denver. "The big picture, most important thing is the two points, regardless of who we're playing against. But there's a little extra in there because of how we've played the last two games against them in Colorado." The Avs are a sub-.500 team on the road (12-16-6), where they are allowing a whopping 3.53 GPG. I've already noted Dubnyk's home numbers (see above for a reminder) and will add here that the Wild have outscored opponents 3.37-to-2.14 GPG on home ice, so far. Make the Wild an 8* play.
