Avalanche vs Wild Betting Pick (January 31, 2021)

The Colorado Avalanche return to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for a second consecutive night against the Minnesota Wild.

Let’s take a look at this a Western Division clash from a betting perspective in our Avalanche vs. Wild Betting preview with odds, picks and predictions for this matchup on January 31, 2021.

Avalanche vs. Wild Betting Pick

The Avalanche have now won four of their last five games after crushing the Wild 5-1 last night. Forwards Mikko Rantanen and Brandon Saad each had a goal and an assist, while Nathan MacKinnon had a pair of assists, which now has him ranked fifth in the league with 12 points on the season.

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The Wild have now lost three of their last four contests after starting off 4-1. Tonight, between the pipes for Minnesota will be Cam Talbot, who returns after dealing with an injury. For Colorado, it will be the second start of the season for Hunter Miska.

The North Branch, MN native will be playing his first game in his home state since his college days at Minnesota-Duluth.

Avalanche vs. Wild Odds

Here are the current odds for Avalanche vs. Wild at BetMGM:

• Spread: Avalanche (-1.5 +170); Wild (+1.5 -200)
• Moneyline: Avalanche (-155); Wild (+130)
• Over/Under: Over 6 (+100)/Under 6 (-120)

Bets We Like With an Avalanche Win

Avalanche First Period Puck-Line (-0.5 Goals +140, BetMGM)

Colorado has covered the first period puck-line in five of their last five games, thanks to a late power-play goal by forward Joonas Donskoi. The Wild play up-tempo, which gives this speedy Avalanche squad chances to score, and I like for the Avalanche to score early once again this evening.

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Bets We Like With a Wild Win

Wild Team Total OVER 3 Goals (+130, BetMGM)

This Minnesota team will have to try and match the tempo of Colorado tonight if they want to pick up two points.

Avalanche goalie Hunter Miska did not look incredibly sharp in his first start, a 4-2 loss in which he made 23 saves on 26 shots faced. I like for the Wild to get back to their scoring ways this evening.

Bets We Like Independent of the Outcome

First Period OVER 1.5 Goals (-115, BetMGM)

The Wild have been playing with high energy early and often this season, with a 6-3 mark to the first period over after nine games. They take on a Colorado squad that is also used to scoring early, but had previously faced slow squads like Anaheim and St. Louis, so their mark of 4-5 to the over is a bit skewed. Look for both clubs to score early and cash this total, just like in last night’s game.

Avalanche vs. Wild Prediction 

Colorado is a supremely talented squad, but the Wild are still playing fierce scrappy hockey despite dropping three of their last four games. With the backup Miska in net for the Avalanche, I feel the home underdog is live tonight.

Minnesota wins this contest 5-3.

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