Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 1/9/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025

Location: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Avalanche (+106) Wild (-128)

The Colorado Avalanche (25-15-1) are traveling to Xcel Energy Center on Thursday where they will attempt to defeat the Minnesota Wild (26-11-4). The moneyline on this game has the Avalanche at +106 and the Wild are coming in at -128. The total has been set at 6.5.

The Colorado Avalanche came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 3-1 victory over the Panthers their last time on the ice. Colorado amassed 6 minutes in the box in this outing. Additionally, they had 4 power play attempts but didn't convert them into a score. The Avalanche were neither impressive or disappointing offensively in the victory. While out there on the ice, they were able to notch a goal on 3 out of the 34 shots they tried.

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While playing at even strength, the Avalanche have given up 106 goals while scoring 110 when they are on offense. Colorado Avalanche opponents have recorded 104 power play tries (26th in the league) and have come away with 24 goals in those chances. In terms of their scoring, the Colorado Avalanche have earned 139 goals (5th in the National Hockey League) on the campaign and have given up 130. Colorado has attempted 1,211 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 11.5%. For the season, they have earned 51 points and their points % is .622. The Avalanche so far have had 1,093 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .881. Colorado has tallied 123 power play chances and they have notched 29 goals out of those chances, earning them a rate of 23.58%.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Mackenzie Blackwood. The opposition has racked up 631 goals against Blackwood in his pro career and his goals against rate is 3.42. Blackwood has participated in 224 contests over the course of his NHL career. His save percentage currently is .906 for his 11,065 minutes between the pipes. He has earned an overall mark of 88-92-26 and he was named the starter in 209 games. Throughout his time in hockey, Blackwood has accounted for 116 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .555. Blackwood has had 6,688 shot attempts taken against him and has amassed 6,057 saves.

When they took the ice last, Minnesota opposed the Hurricanes in an outing where the Wild notched a victory by a final of 4-0. They had 3 power play opportunities in this matchup and recorded 1 out of those chances. The Wild recorded 4 goals of the 27 shots on goal they tried.

Over the course of the season, the Minnesota Wild are sitting with 125 goals, 56 points, as well as a points percentage of .683. They have granted a total of 109 goals to be scored by way of 80 goals at even strength and 29 goals while they were shorthanded. The Wild have earned 105 goals at even strength and 20 goals (25th in the NHL) while having a power play advantage. They have earned 105 opportunities on the power play and they have earned a power play percentage of 19.05%. Minnesota has taken 1,163 shots (16th in the league) and has a shooting percentage of 10.75%, while allowing the other team 1,197 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 70.71% on their oppositions 99 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 90.9%.

Across the rink you are expected to see Filip Gustavsson defending the net. He has compiled 3,743 saves out of 4,095 shots attempted, which gives him a save % of .914. Gustavsson is the owner of a career mark of 70-46-17 and has played in 139 games. He was named a starter in 131 games and has played for a total of 6,424 minutes. Gustavsson's rate of quality starts comes out to 61.8% and he has qualified for 81 quality starting assignments in his professional career. The opposition is averaging 3.29 goals per game and he has relinquished 352 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Colorado (+106)

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