Saturday, April 19, 9:30 PM on NBCS, TSN, FSN, Alti

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Saturday evening, the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche will meet in Game 2 of their 1st Round Western Conference playoff series. The Avalanche lead the series 1 – 0 after an overtime victory in Game 1.

Going into this playoff series, many wondered how the young Avalanche team with their rookie head coach would handle the playoff atmosphere.  It turned out that it didn’t take long for Colorado to realize that once the puck drops, it’s still just a hockey game.  13:14 into the 1st period, the Avalanche took a 1 – 0 lead on a goal by Gabriel Landeskog.  But a little over 2 minutes later at 15:20 in, the Wild tied it up at  1 – 1 thanks to Charlie Coyle’s goal.

The score stayed at 1 – 1 for most of the 2nd period until at 11:05 in, the Wild took a 2 – 1 lead on a power play goal by Ryan Suter.  The Minnesota lead didn’t last long because Colorado’s Ryan O’Reilly scored from 33 feet out to make it a 2 – 2 game.  With less than 6 minutes left in the period, Minnesota started to pull away.  With goals by Erik Haula and Kyle Brodziak, the Wild took a 4 – 2 lead going into the 3rd period.  But Colorado would not go away.  In the 3rd period, Jamie McGinn’s goal cut the lead to 4 – 3.  Then with less than 14 seconds left in regulation, Paul Stastny scored to make it 4 – 4 and send the game to overtime.  Stastny would again prove to be the hero as he scored the winning goal 7:27 into the overtime period.     

ATS Trends

Minnesota is 17-24 straight up on the road this season

Minnesota is 13-17-11 against the over/under on the road this season

Colorado is 26-15 straight up at home this season

Colorado is 19-21-1 against the over/under at home this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota

04/17/14 GO Darcy Kuemper Upper Body questionable Saturday vs. Colorado
04/11/14 LW Michael Rupp Suspension expected to miss 1st three Rd 1 playoff games
03/26/14 D Keith Ballard Groin out indefinitely
03/12/14 LW Jason Zucker Quad out for season
03/05/14 GO Niklas Backstrom Abdominal out for season
01/06/14 GO Josh Harding Illness out indefinitely

Colorado

04/17/14 D Cory Sarich Back questionable Saturday vs. Minnesota
04/17/14 C John Mitchell Concussion questionable Saturday vs. Minnesota
03/31/14 C Matt Duchene Knee expected to miss 3-4 weeks
02/25/14 RW Milan Hejduk Personal has retired
02/20/14 LW Alex Tanguay Hip out for season

Guy's Pick: Take Colorado

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here