The Minnesota Wild (0-2-0) play host to the Colorado Avalanche (1-1-0) at Xcel Energy Center on Monday. Colorado is coming off a high-scoring 5-3 loss against the Flames on Thursday. The Avalanche committed seven penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Nathan MacKinnon, Bowen Byram, and Valeri Nichushkin scored one apiece for the Avalanche. MacKinnon added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Pavel Francouz saved only 22 of 27 shots against (.814%) in the loss. Minnesota fell 7-6 to the Kings on Saturday. Six players found the net for the Wild. Mats Zuccarello scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Marc-Andre Fleury only had 10 saves on 14 shots (.714%) after starting in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their four meetings last season, the last of which was a 4-1 victory for the Wild in April. Jordan Greenway (2G 0A) and Kirill Kaprizov (1G 1A) each had two points to lead Minnesota. Fleury got the win, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964%).
FACING OFF
Colorado is averaging 4.00 goals per game so far this season, eighth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Wild team that is allowing 7.00 goals a game (32nd). Meanwhile, Minnesota has found the net 4.50 times a game on average, sixth in the league, and the Avalanche are allowing opponents to score 3.50 goals per game (23rd).Power play opportunities should be plentiful for the Avalanche, as the Wild have been penalized 7.50 times a game, 31st-most in the NHL, for an average of 16.50 minutes (32nd). The visitors are averaging 5.50 penalties (21st) and 12.50 penalty minutes a game (22nd).
TOP PERFORMERS:
With five points already this season, Mikko Rantanen is the top skater for the Avalanche. He has five assists in two games. In the net, Alexandar Georgiev (1-0-0) is Colorado’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.00 GAA and a .882% save percentage. Zuccarello and Matt Boldy lead the Wild in scoring on the season with four points each. Both have two goals and two assists in two games. Filip Gustavsson (0-1-0) has the best goals against average for Minnesota at 4.74. He has a save percentage of .850%. Fleury (0-1-0) has played the most games in net for the Wild this season. He has an 8.35 GAA and a .776% save percentage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche (-130)
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NHL hub page for all your hockey needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
