Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild 2/15/2023 Expert Picks Predictions and Previews
Hockey fans are in for a treat as the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild are set to clash at Excel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Colorado enters the game with an overall record of 28-19-5, including an impressive 15-10-1 record on the road. The Avalanche currently sit in third place in the Central Division, trailing Dallas by 10 points. However, the team has had some struggles leading up to this match, having lost three out of their last five games played. In their most recent game, a home match against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado fell 3-4 in a shootout competition. Despite center Denis Malgin scoring an unassisted goal in the final period to take a 3-2 lead, the Avalanche defense allowed Tampa Bay to tie the score at 3-3 and force the game into overtime before ultimately losing in the shootout competition.
Offensively, the Colorado Avalanche has been averaging 2.91 goals on 33.5 shot attempts per match this season, and they have been impressive on power play chances with a 27.3% success rate. The team has also excelled in faceoffs, winning 47.0% of them. On the defensive side of the ice, the Avalanche has given up an average of 2.6 goals on 31.3 shot attempts per match, with a penalty kill percentage of 76.4%. In this game, Colorado will rely on Alexander Georgiev to guard the net. Georgiev has a record of 15-7-2 this season, and he has maintained a save percentage of .921 throughout the year.
- The Colorado Avalanche is 8-4 straight up in their last 12 outings.
- Colorado is 6-3 SU in their last 9 matches played versus Minnesota.
- The totals stayed UNDER in 8 of Colorado’s last 9 road games.
- The totals went OVER in 5 of the Avalanche’s last 7 contests on the road against the Wild.
Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild 2/15/2023 Expert Picks Predictions and Previews
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Wild will host the Colorado Avalanche at Excel Energy Center as part of their homestand, where the home team will be looking to return to their winning ways after their last home loss. The Wild are tied with their opponents in third place in the Central Division with 61 total points, and they have posted a 16-9-2 record on home ice this season. The team has struggled in their last five games, having lost four of them, including their most recent outing, which resulted in a disappointing 1-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers. Despite the loss, goaltender Filip Gustavsson put on a solid performance, stopping 33 shots attempted against him for a save percentage of .971.
The Wild’s offense has recorded an average of 3.13 goals on 33.0 shots per game, and their power play opportunities are 26.3% of the time, with a faceoff success rate of 47.3%. On defense, Minnesota’s average concession is 2.84 goals on 31 shots per game, with a penalty kill rate of 73.5%. The team may place Marc-Andre Fleury at the pipes, with an 11-7-1 record and a .878 save percentage. As for their opponents, the Colorado Avalanche will visit Minnesota with a 28-19-5 overall record and a 15-10-1 record on the road. Placed third in the Central Division with 10 points behind Dallas in the first place, the Avalanche come into this match-up after losing three of their last five contests, including their recent 3-4 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although center Denis Malgin punched in an unassisted goal to gain a 3-2 lead, Colorado’s defense allowed Tampa Bay to tie the score at 3-3, forcing the game into overtime before losing in the shootout.
On average, the Avalanche record 2.91 goals on 33.5 shots per match, with a 27.3% success rate on power play chances and a 47.0% success rate on faceoffs. Defensively, the Colorado Avalanche has allowed an average of 2.6 goals on 31.3 shot attempts per match, with a penalty kill rate of 76.4%. Alexander Georgiev will stand between the pipes with a 15-7-2 record and a save percentage of .921 for the Avalanche.
- The totals went UNDER in 6 of the Wild’s last 7 contests.
- Minnesota is 1-4 straight up in their last 5 matches.
- The totals went OVER in 7 of the Wild’s last 10 games versus Colorado
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild. The NHL Pick for this contest is Colorado Avalanche. The visiting Colorado Avalanche is favored to win, having prevailed in six of their last ten matches played against the Minnesota Wild. Moreover, the Avalanche have been in impressive form of late, winning seven of their last ten games overall and four of their last eight on the road. With a solid 15-10-1 record away from home, Colorado is expected to maintain their dominance in this game with a score prediction of 5-4.
NHL Starting Time: 9:30 PM ET
Location: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MIN
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
TV: TNT
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Colorado Avalanche +105
NHL Totals: 6.0
