Free NHL Picks Today: Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche 2/15/23

The Minnesota Wild (-135) welcome the Colorado Avalanche (+115) at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday. The total is 6 (O: -105, U: -115)Colorado (28-19-5) is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 4-3 overtime loss against the Lightning yesterday.

The Avalanche committed five penalties in the game, though they held Tampa Bay without a power play goal. Nathan MacKinnon, Denis Malgin, and Artturi Lehkonen each scored once for the Avalanche. MacKinnon added an assist to lead the team in scoring.

Alexandar Georgiev saved 32 of 35 shots in the loss. Minnesota (28-20-5) fell 2-1 (SO) to the Panthers on Monday. Kirill Kaprizov netted the lone goal in regulation for the Wild. Filip Gustavsson had a great performance with 33 saves (.970%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Avalanche won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-3 victory in October. Valeri Nichushkin and MacKinnon each had three points (1G 2A) to lead Colorado. Calen Addison led Minnesota with three points (0G 3A). Georgiev got the win, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923%).

FACING OFF

Colorado is averaging 3.00 goals per game for the season, 22nd in the NHL, and they are taking on a Wild team that is allowing 2.85 goals a game (12th).

Meanwhile, Minnesota has found the net 2.91 times a game on average, 24th in the league, and the Avalanche are allowing opponents to score 2.77 goals per game (9th).

Colorado averages more shots (33.5) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, though the team’s 9.2% shooting percentage is 25th. Minnesota’s average of 31.2 attempts ranks 18th.

Don’t be surprised to see a few power play opportunities for the Avalanche, as the Wild have been penalized 4.58 times a game, third-most in the NHL, for an average of 12.11 minutes (third-highest). The visitors are averaging 3.79 penalties (15th) and 8.77 penalty minutes a game (17th).

The Wild’s 23.67% power play percentage ranks eighth in the league, while the Avalanche are 10th with a conversion rate of 23.53%. When it comes to defending power plays, Minnesota has the league’s 10th-ranked PK% at 81.01%, while Colorado is 20th at 77.02%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Mikko Rantanen (63 points), MacKinnon (60), and Cale Makar (45) have been the top skaters this season for the Avalanche. Rantanen is among the league leaders with his 34 goals (5th), while MacKinnon is among the league leaders with his 43 assists (10th). Makar has also been an offensive leader for Colorado, scoring 13 and assisting 32.

In the net, Pavel Francouz (7-7-1) is Colorado’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.53 GAA and a .919% save percentage. Georgiev (21-12-3) leads the Avalanche in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.68 and a save percentage of .917%.

Kaprizov leads the Wild in scoring with 63 points. He has 30 goals and 33 assists in 53 games. Gustavsson (12-8-2) has the best goals against average for Minnesota at 2.18, second-best in the league.

He has a save percentage of .926%, also second-best. Marc-Andre Fleury (16-12-3) has played the most games in net for the Wild this season. He has a 2.98 GAA and a .902% save percentage.

HOME AND AWAY

Colorado is 15-10-1 away from home this season. Minnesota is 16-9-2 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are 3-2 without a day off and 2-0 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Wild are 7-0 with a rest advantage.