Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Predictions January 20th 2025

Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild January 20th 2025

Looking to win big? The Wild and Avalanche face off at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The Avalanche are hosting the game at Ball Arena in Denver, CO. This Central division matchup has an over/under of 6 goals, and the Avalanche are favored by -1.5 at home vs. the Wild.

Minnesota vs. Colorado Key Information

The Wild improved to 27-15-4 with a 2-1 overtime win against the Maple Leafs. Minnesota, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, but the teams combined for just 3.

Ryan Hartman opened the scoring for the Wild at 9:41 in the first period, but the Maple Leafs tied it with 52 seconds left in the period. Matt Boldy scored the game-winner at 2:14 in overtime.

Ryan Hartman opened the scoring for the Wild, netting his third goal of the season at 9:41 in the first period. Matt Boldy followed up with his sixth goal, which came 2:14 into overtime to secure the 2-1 win.

Jared Spurgeon contributed with 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. They recorded 15 giveaways in the game.

Minnesota’s defense will look to build on a strong performance in their last game, where they allowed just one goal to Toronto. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves, posting a 96.4% save percentage. The Wild’s defense also recorded 7 takeaways and 22 hits. The only goal they allowed came on a Maple Leafs power play late in the first period.

After a 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche’s record now stands at 28-18-1. Colorado took the lead early in the second period, but Nashville responded with five unanswered goals. The Avalanche were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Colorado’s defense held the Predators scoreless in the first period, but things unraveled from there. The Avalanche’s goals came from Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, with Nashville sealing the game with two empty-netters in the third period.

Colorado fired 30 shots on goal in their latest game, but only found the net twice in a 5-2 loss to Nashville. Cale Makar opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season, which came on a power play. Nathan MacKinnon added his sixth goal, while also picking up his 14th assist.

The Avalanche were held scoreless in the first period before Makar’s goal at 17:06 in the second. MacKinnon’s goal came with just 2:17 left in the game. Colorado had 23 offensive giveaways in the contest.

On the defensive side, the Avalanche gave up two late goals in the third period, both empty-netters, leading to a 5-2 loss. Goalie Justus Annunen made 21 saves, finishing with a save percentage of 87.5%. The Avalanche’s defense also recorded 11 takeaways and 26 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline bet in this game, our analysis leans towards the Avalanche picking up the win. However, given the current odds of -222, I’d advise going with the puck line, as our predictions have the Avalanche coming out on top by more than one goal.

For a puck line prediction, our preference is the Avalanche to secure a win and cover. Anticipate the Avalanche to win this one by multiple goals over the Wild.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

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Wild Look to Snap Skid Against Red-Hot Avalanche

The Minnesota Wild find themselves in desperate need of a turnaround as they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Monday afternoon in Denver. With three straight losses and four defeats in their last five games, the Wild must find a way to compete against an Avalanche team that is clicking offensively and playing at home—where they have been one of the best teams in the NHL this season.

Wild Struggling Amid Key Injuries

Minnesota (22-21-5) has been inconsistent for months, alternating between winning and losing streaks. The latest slide comes at a tough time, as the team is missing several key players:

• Kirill Kaprizov (lower-body injury, LTIR) – Despite missing nearly a month, he still leads the team in goals (23), assists (27), and points (50).
• Jonas Brodin (lower-body injury) – A major piece on defense, his absence has hurt the Wild’s structure.
• Jared Spurgeon (lower-body injury) – Could potentially return on this road trip, giving the blue line a much-needed boost.

Despite the injuries, the Wild were frustrated with their recent effort, particularly Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Nashville Predators.

“I mean, that’s why you have to be able to play the games that you’re in,” head coach John Hynes said. “We weren’t at our best, and that’s something we got to get back to on Monday. That’s what you have to do. It’s all about the next target. The next target’s Colorado.”

Key Players for Minnesota

• Matt Boldy (18 G, 23 A, 41 PTS) – The Wild’s top offensive threat with Kaprizov out.
• Marco Rossi (17 G, 23 A, 40 PTS) – Having a breakout season with consistent scoring production.
• Filip Gustavsson (Likely Starter) – Needs a strong bounce-back performance after struggling in recent starts.

Avalanche Thriving With Stars Leading the Way

The Avalanche (32-15-3) are dealing with injuries of their own, but their biggest stars are healthy and dominating.

• Nathan MacKinnon (17 G, 56 A, 73 PTS) – Leads the NHL in scoring and remains an MVP favorite.
• Mikko Rantanen (25 G, 38 A, 63 PTS) – Sixth in the league in scoring, providing elite offense.
• Cale Makar (15 G, 37 A, 52 PTS) – Leads all NHL defensemen in scoring and just reached 100 career goals.

Makar played a pivotal role in Colorado’s 6-3 win over Dallas on Saturday, scoring twice—including his 100th career goal—despite taking a shot off his left skate earlier in the game.

Head coach Jared Bednar had nothing but praise for his star defenseman.

“I’m a little biased, but you’re watching one of the best defensemen that’s ever played the game,” Bednar said.

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Jonathan Drouin Finding His Stride

Drouin, who has missed significant time due to injury, has started to find chemistry playing alongside MacKinnon. He also scored his 100th career goal in the win over Dallas.

“We’re just on the same page. In the right spots at the right time, making it easy for the guy with the puck to find him, or make a play out of it,” Drouin said.

Avalanche Still Missing Key Depth Pieces

Even though Colorado’s top stars are performing well, they are still hoping to get back to full health:

• Valeri Nichushkin (Lower-Body Injury) – Missed last nine games, no return timeline.
• Miles Wood (Upper-Body Injury) – Out for 24 straight games, remains without a timeline for return.

Can the Wild Break Their Losing Streak?

Minnesota is facing an uphill battle in this matchup:

• The Avalanche have elite firepower, while the Wild are missing their best player (Kaprizov).
• Colorado has been dominant at home, while Minnesota has been inconsistent on the road.
• Goaltending and defensive play will be crucial, especially if Gustavsson faces a high shot volume.

With the Wild desperate to stop their skid and Colorado looking to stay dominant, Monday’s showdown in Denver should be an intense battle between two teams trending in different directions.