NHL Betting: Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild

Apr 11, 2008 | By Billy Brewer | Picks Articles Archive

NHL Playoffs Game 1 of the Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild series was essentially what everyone expected: a hard-fought, closely contested battled that was decided by a single goal. This will likely be one of the closest series of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, so Colorado Avalanche fans should be thankful they earned a victory in Game 1 over the Minnesota Wild. Wednesday's 3-2 overtime game was a wild one, with old veteran Joe Sakic potting the game winner. It was Sakic's second point of the night and shouldn't come as much of a surprise, since it was his NHL-record eighth overtime goal in the postseason. BetUS.com has the Minnesota Wild -135 odds against the Colorado Avalanche +115 with the over/under set at 5 goals.Get your NHL Bet in now at BetUS.com

GAME: Colorado Avalanche (45-31-4-3) at Minnesota Wild (44-28-3-8)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 11 - 9:00 PM EST
LINE: BetUS.com TOTAL: 5
PICK: Minny -135

Despite out-shooting the Avs 20-7 through two periods, Minnesota trailed 2-0 thanks to goals by Kurt Sauer and Ryan Smyth. The Wild showed their mettle, though, by scoring a pair of goals (Mikko Koivu and Todd Fedoruk) in the third period to send it to overtime. The sudden-death period was played with reckless abandon and went back-and-forth before Sakic back-handed in the game winner. Minny had a 30-22 edge in shots when all was said and done. It had a hard time solving goalie Jose Theodore, who has plenty of playoff experience (2.63 goals against average in 38 career playoff games).

A growing concern for Minnesota is injuries, which could start impacting the betting lines. Forward Mark Parrish was taken to the hospital after hitting his head off the boards in Game 1 and it's currently unknown what his status is. That cuts into the Wild's depth a little bit, which was already hurting since defenseman Nick Schultz underwent an appendectomy on Monday (he'll miss at least the first-round). Schultz was one of the team's better defenders.

Despite the injuries, the Minnesota Wild will have a hostile crowd backing it on Friday night. There's no doubt the Colorado Avalanche will put up a good fight, but this series should be back and forth the whole way. Minny evens it at one apiece.

Recent Trends

Under is 8-0-1 in the last 9 meetings in Minnesota.
Favorite is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings.
Home team is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.
Avalanche are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Minnesota.

The Bottom Line: They're going to come out firing on all cylinaders. They need to watch for stupid penalties. Go Wild. Get your NHL Bet in now at BetUS.com

NHL Betting: Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild

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