Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Only four points separate the Colorado Avalanche from the Minnesota Wild, who have a game in hand, but based on recent play, there is a gulf between the two teams.

The Avs are coming off a clean sweep of their recent six-game home stand and arrive in Saint Paul full of confidence.

On the other side, Wild general manager Bill Guerin defended his team's conservative approach to the trade deadline as fans would have liked to see more aggressive moves in an effort to make a deep playoff run.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild betting picks and predictions

Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+145)

The Avalanche have made early exits from the playoffs in the two years since they lifted the Stanley Cup for the second time, and while they didn't exactly go all-in at the trade deadline, they have been a work in progress for most of the year.

The lineup is much changed since the start of the season, and trading away top scorer Mikko Rantanen looked like a huge gamble.

Martin Necas has filled the gap nicely, though, and the Avs are motoring along. They arrive in Saint Paul fresh from sweeping a six-game home stand.

They sit third in the Central Division and will need a little luck to improve their seeding, but that won't stop them pushing for wins.

They haven't had much recovery time, having played at Ball Arena last night, but they should be high on confidence and still have enough to win comfortably.

The Wild are only four points back with a game in hand, but they have not responded well to the loss of top scorer Kirill Kaprizov to injury in January. Kaprizov lost his place at the top of the Wild scoring charts only two games ago, despite having played 25 games fewer than new leader Matt Boldy.

That demonstrates their lack of scoring depth, as does the fact that Colorado have scored 40 goals more than Minnesota this season.

The Wild lost their last two games against teams who are not in the playoff structure and they look set to struggle when the Avalanche visit, so back the road team on the puck line.

Martin Necas anytime goalscorer (+200)

Mikko Rantanen being sent to the New Jersey Devils in a trade which brought Martin Necas to Colorado shocked fans of both franchises, but with some hindsight, the Avs certainly got the better of the deal.

Necas has continued to produce at the rate he was setting on the East Coast, with 17 points in his 16 games for Colorado.

The Czech centre has scored in two of his three games, and also netted three goals in his last four on the road.  

He is part of a powerplay unit that is ticking along nicely at 23.8 percent and looks a decent play to score on Tuesday.

Under 6.0 Total Goals (-120)

While the Avalanche have plenty of offensive power, the Wild's scoring struggles could keep the total low on Tuesday.

Three of Minnesota's last four games have featured no more than four goals, while Colorado shut out the Blackhawks 3-0 on Monday night.

The Wild have scored two or fewer goals in six of their last seven outings, so the Avs may not have to be at their most ruthless to secure the points.

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Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild odds

COL Avalanche	-170 ML
MIN Wild	+145 ML
Spread	COL -1.5
Total	O/U 6.0

Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Nathan MacKinnon (COL Avalanche)	+130
Matthew Boldy (MIN Wild)	+190
Martin Necas (COL Avalanche)	+200
Valeri Nichushkin (COL Avalanche)	+200
Arturi Lehkonen (COL Avalanche)	+220
Marco Rossi (MIN Wild)	+275

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.