Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Friday, February 28, 2025
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Where to Watch: ESPN+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Moneyline: Wild +164, Avalanche -198; Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Bet365: Moneyline: Wild +165, Avalanche -200; Over/Under: 5.5 goals
BetMGM: Moneyline: Wild +165, Avalanche -200; Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Season Record
Minnesota Wild: 34-20-4 (3rd place, Central Division)
Colorado Avalanche: 34-24-2 (4th place, Central Division)
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Recent Form
Minnesota Wild: 6-4-0 last 10
Colorado Avalanche: 6-4-0 last 10
Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Preview and Analysis
The Wild are entering this game with 72 points, a 34-20-4 record overall, and they are 21-7-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Detroit Red Wings in their last game, losing that one at home 3-2, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Utah Hockey Club still to be played on Thursday night. In their game against the Red Wings, Jakub Lauko and Marco Rossi each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Matt Boldy, Devin Shore, Jared Spurgeon, and Yakov Trenin each led the team in assists with 1 while Matt Boldy, Jonas Brodin, and Frédérick Gaudreau each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Filip Gustavsson was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 16 shots with 13 saves and a .812 save percentage. Their offense has scored 169 goals this season averaging 2.9 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 165 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.
The Avalanche are entering this game with 70 points, a 34-24-2 record overall, and they are 17-10-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the New Jersey Devils in their last game, winning that one at home 5-1. Nathan MacKinnon led the team in goals scored with 2 while Artturi Lehkonen, Casey Mittelstadt, and Logan O'Connor each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Martin Nečas led the team in assists with 3 while Nathan MacKinnon led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Mackenzie Blackwood was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 23 shots with 22 saves and a .957 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 193 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 180 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.
Wild vs Avalanche Prediction
The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked good in their games this season with their 34-24-2 record overall which has them in 4th place of their division in the West and in a Wild Card spot. They have looked good on home ice this year with their 17-10-2 home record. Meanwhile, the Wild have looked good in their games this season with their 34-20-4 record overall which has them in 3rd place of their division in the West and in a playoff spot. They have been a great road team too with their 21-7-3 road record, but they aren't safe in their playoff spot. They are only 2 points ahead of the Avalanche in the Central Division so the Avalanche have a chance to climb the standings with a win here. Both teams are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games and neither team has been really hot lately. The Wild were playing well out of the All-Star break, but now they are coming off a loss to the Red Wings in their last one. The Avalanche struggled out of the All-Star break, but now they are coming off a win over the Devils in their last one, their first win since coming back from the break, and that win will give them some momentum coming into this one. The Avalanche also have the advantage here since they are at home and rested while the Wild are playing this game on a back-to-back. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game and on the puckline.
Wild Avalanche Prediction: Our NHL Pick for Friday, February 28, 2025 (9:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 5 Wild 2.
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NHL Betting Trends
Minnesota Wild: 76-56 (+8.8 units) on the moneyline against terrible defensive teams - allowing 3+ goals/game. 114-98 (+9.1 units) on the moneyline against mistake free teams - opponents average 4 power plays/game or less. 100-79 (+9.8 units) on the moneyline against poor power play killing teams - opp score on over 17.5% of chances. 8-3 UNDER when playing 3 or less games in 10 days.
Colorado Avalanche: 40-32 (-16.8 units) on the moneyline off a home win. 19-19 (-11.3 units) on the moneyline off a home blowout win by 3 goals or more. 102-76 (-12.3 units) on the moneyline against excellent power play teams- scoring on over 17.5% of their chances. 29-15 UNDER revenging a loss vs opponent as a home favorite.
Key Injuries
Minnesota Wild: J. Eriksson Ek (C) Out - Undisclosed. K. Kaprizov (LW) Out - Lower Body. T. Grosenick (G) Out For Season - Knee.
Colorado Avalanche: J. Manson (D) Day To Day - Lower-body. G. Landeskog (LW) Out - Knee. T. Poolman (D) Out For Season - Head.
Notable Quotes
“Yeah, we had chances, we could have won the game, just maybe score one more goal, but like I said we just have to keep building it from now on and I think we still play good hockey we just gotta keep going.” - Marco Rossi after their loss against the Red Wings in their game on Tuesday.
“No passengers. I loved the effort and the competitiveness and the execution from all of our lines, all of our players doing whatever they can do, playing as hard as they can possibly play in order to get us a big win.” - Jared Bednar after his team’s win against the Devils in their game on Wednesday.
Starting Lineups
Minnesota Wild
LW Matt Boldy
C Marco Rossi
RW Mats Zuccarello
LD Jacob Middleton
RD Brock Faber
G Filip Gustavsson
Colorado Avalanche
LW Artturi Lehkonen
C Nathan MacKinnon
RW Martin Necas
LD Devon Toews
RD Cale Makar
G MacKenzie Blackwood
Statistical Leaders
Minnesota Wild
Points: K. Kaprizov (52)
Goals: K. Kaprizov (23)
Assists: M. Boldy (30)
GAA: M. Fleury (2.58)
Colorado Avalanche
Points: N. MacKinnon (90)
Goals: A. Lehkonen (24)
Assists: N. MacKinnon (67)
GAA: M. Blackwood (2.40)
Coaches:
Minnesota Wild: John Hynes (2nd season)
Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (9th season)