Avalanche vs. Wild NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Feb. 26

Two of the best clubs in the Western Conference will clash when the Colorado Avalanche (38-9-9, first place) host the Minnesota Wild (34-14-10, third) on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. Avalanche (-148) versus Wild (+124) has a clear favorite, according to the moneyline odds.

Colorado won 4-2 on the road its last time out on Feb. 25 against the Utah Mammoth. Martin Necas (one goal and one assist) and Parker Kelly (one goal and one assist) each had two points for the Avalanche.

In its last game on Feb. 4, Minnesota secured a 6-5 road victory over the Nashville Predators. Matthew Boldy's four points (three goals and one assist) in that matchup led the Wild.

Before watching this matchup, here's our pick for which squad will take home the victory in Thursday's hockey action.

Avalanche vs. Wild Predictions & Pick

Ahead of the upcoming contest between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, sourced from Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Avalanche 3 - Wild 2
• Pick OU: Under 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 5.04 goals)
  

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Avalanche vs. Wild Moneylines

Take a look below at the most up-to-date moneylines for the Avalanche-Wild game.

• Favorite: Avalanche (-148)
• Underdog: Wild (+124)

Avalanche Betting Insights

• The Avalanche have gone 38-17 this season when listed as a moneyline favorite.
• Colorado is 33-12 (winning 73.3% of its games) when it has played with moneyline odds of -148 or shorter.
• Based on the moneyline in this game, the Avalanche's implied win probability is 59.7%.
• In 25 of 56 matches this season, Colorado and its opponent have combined to finish above 6.5 goals.

Wild Betting Insights

• This season the Wild have been an underdog 23 times, and won 14, or 60.9%, of those games.
• This season Minnesota has won five of its eight games when it's the underdog by at least +124 on the moneyline.
• The moneyline in this matchup implies a 44.6% chance of victory for the Wild.
• Minnesota has combined with its opponent to score more than 6.5 goals in 32 of 58 games this season.

Avalanche Key Stats

• Colorado leads the NHL with 215 total goals (3.8 per game).
• Defensively, the Avalanche have been the stingiest squad in league action, conceding 135 total goals (just 2.4 per game).
• Its goal differential (+80) tops the league.
• The 28 power-play goals the Avalanche have scored this season (to rank 24th in the NHL) have come on 182 power-play chances.
• Colorado's 15.38% power-play conversion rate ranks 32nd in the league.
• The one shorthanded goal the Avalanche have scored this season rank 30th among NHL squads.
• Colorado has the league's second-best penalty-kill percentage (84.52%).
• Colorado has the 11th-ranked faceoff win rate in the NHL, at 50.8%.
• The Avalanche connect on 11.3% of their shots (14th in the league).

Wild Key Stats

• Minnesota is 10th in the NHL in scoring (192 goals, 3.3 per game).
• The Wild's total of 166 goals given up (2.9 per game) is 10th in the league.
• With a goal differential of +26, the team is sixth-best in the league in that category.
• The Wild have 48 power-play goals (on 189 chances), third in the NHL.
• Minnesota has the league's sixth-best power-play percentage (25.4%).
• This season, the Wild have four shorthanded goals (15th in league).
• Minnesota's has the 25th-ranked penalty-kill percentage (77.18%).
• Minnesota wins 46.5% of faceoffs, 31st-ranked in the NHL.
• The Wild's 11.5% shooting percentage is 11th in the league.