Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Predictions January 9th 2025

Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche January 9th 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Avalanche and Wild. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Get ready to place your bets! The Avalanche are favored by -1.5 in this Central divisional contest against the Wild. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6 goals.

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Colorado vs. Minnesota Key Information

Colorado’s 5-2 loss to the Predators moved them to 25-16-1 on the season. The Avalanche were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

The Avalanche took a 1-0 lead at 17:06 in the second period, but Nashville responded with five unanswered goals. Colorado’s defense gave up two empty-net goals in the third period.

In their 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche took 30 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Cale Makar opened the scoring with his 5th goal of the season, coming on a power play in the second period. Nathan MacKinnon added his 6th goal, scoring with just 2:17 left in the game.

MacKinnon also picked up his 14th assist on Makar’s goal, while Makar earned his 16th assist on MacKinnon’s late tally. The Avalanche had 23 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Avalanche struggled late, giving up two empty-net goals to the Predators in the final 1:14. They also allowed the first two goals of the game, both coming in the second period. Justus Annunen finished with a save percentage of 87.5% on 24 shots.

With a 2-1 overtime win against the Maple Leafs, the Wild improved to 26-11-4. Minnesota, favored on the puck line, didn’t cover, and the total was set at 6 goals, with the combined score of 3 falling well under.

Ryan Hartman scored first for the Wild, but the Maple Leafs tied it up late in the first period. Matt Boldy netted the game-winner in overtime to seal the victory.

Ryan Hartman netted his third goal of the season, getting the Wild on the board 9:41 into the first period. Matt Boldy followed with his sixth goal, securing the win with a 2:14 mark in overtime. Hartman and Boldy each took 3 shots on goal.

Jared Spurgeon picked up two assists, bringing his season total to three. The Wild fired 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the second and third periods before Boldy’s overtime winner. Minnesota had 15 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Wild will look to carry momentum from their previous game, where they allowed just 1 goal to Toronto. Filip Gustavsson recorded 27 saves with a 96.4% save percentage. The defense also contributed 7 takeaways and 22 hits. The only goal they conceded came on a Maple Leafs power play late in the first period.

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Wild to come out with a win against the Avalanche while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at +111, I’m placing my bet on the Wild to win outright.

Our projections have the Wild pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Wild, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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Wild Look to Extend Hot Streak Despite Kaprizov’s Absence Against Avalanche

The Minnesota Wild aim to continue their strong play without star forward Kirill Kaprizov when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minn. Kaprizov, sidelined with a lower-body injury, will miss his seventh consecutive game, but the Wild have thrived in his absence, going 5-1-0 during that stretch.

Wild Rise to the Occasion Without Kaprizov

Kaprizov remains Minnesota’s leading scorer with 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in just 34 games. His absence has required a collective effort, and the Wild have delivered.

“You can go one of two ways when you hit adversity, and we’re choosing to rise to the occasion,” defenseman Zach Bogosian said.

Marco Rossi has stepped up offensively with 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 41 games, while the team has leaned on its depth and defensive structure to maintain momentum.

The Wild will also be without defenseman Brock Faber, who sustained an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s 6-4 win over the St. Louis Blues. However, the return of Jake Middleton, who scored a goal in his first game back from injury, provides a boost to the defensive corps.

“Everyone’s feeling good,” Middleton said. “Confidence, we talk about that a lot. If we could buy it, we’d all be tremendous. But we’ve earned it up to now, halfway through the year, and we’re feeling good about it.”

Avalanche Look to Rebound After Loss to Blackhawks

The Avalanche enter Thursday’s game after a rare stumble, falling 3-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Despite the loss, Colorado had been red-hot, posting a 7-0-1 record in its previous eight games.

“I don’t hate our game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after Wednesday’s loss. “Sometimes, you just don’t shoot well, and the goalie comes up with a good night. It can happen.”

Nathan MacKinnon continues to lead Colorado with an impressive 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists) in 42 games, while Mikko Rantanen (58 points) and Cale Makar (49 points) provide additional star power.

Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who likely will start Thursday after resting against Chicago, has been solid this season with a 13-10-4 record, a 2.58 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. However, Blackwood has struggled against Minnesota, posting an 0-3-1 record with a 3.69 GAA and .888 save percentage in four career games.

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Goaltending Matchup

The Wild may turn to Filip Gustavsson in net despite pulling him in the second period of his previous outing. Gustavsson has been steady overall this season, with an 18-6-3 record, a 2.31 GAA, and a .922 save percentage. His career numbers against Colorado (1-5-1, 3.91 GAA, .893 save percentage) suggest potential challenges, though.

If Gustavsson gets a rest, veteran Marc-Andre Fleury could step in. Fleury, 40, has extensive experience against Colorado, compiling a 16-12-3 record with a 2.53 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 32 career games.

Keys to the Game

1. Depth Scoring: Minnesota’s ability to spread the scoring in Kaprizov’s absence has been crucial and will need to continue.
2. Goaltending Duel: Both teams will rely heavily on their netminders to deliver standout performances in what could be a tight contest.
3. Colorado’s Quick Turnaround: With the Avalanche playing on short rest, their ability to maintain energy and focus will be critical.

The Wild look to solidify their position in the standings with another statement win, while the Avalanche aim to bounce back and regain their rhythm. Both teams are determined to prove their resilience as they meet in this Central Division showdown.