NHL Betting – Colorado at Minnesota. Two teams separated by just three points meet in Friday NHL betting as the Minnesota Wild host the Colorado Avalanche. The Western Conference is so tightly bunched that after the three division leaders, 11 teams are within 9 points of each other. You can make an NHL bet on this game between Colorado and Minnesota at Sbgglobal.
Goaltender Issues
This is one of those games where you want to check who is in goal for both teams before you make your NHL bet. The Wild could be without backup goaltender Jose Theodore on Friday and starting goaltender Niklas Backstrom is out until next week with a strained hip flexor. That could mean that Anton Khudobin gets the start. He is 2-0 in his three appearances although he has only one start. Minnesota has lost two straight games and really needs to get a home win on Friday.
Colorado Struggling
The Avalanche are in the mix for a playoff spot but right now they don’t have the look of a playoff team. They are just 3-7 in their last 10 games. This is a huge game against Minnesota because a win would put Colorado five points ahead of the Wild but a loss would leave them just one point in front. Colorado was shutout 4-0 at Chicago on Wednesday. It is easy to see why Colorado is having trouble. They are 29th in the league in defense. Colorado is 4th in goals scored but bad defensive teams rarely win consistently in the NHL. Colorado has to get Craig Anderson playing like he did last year in goal if they are to make the playoffs.
Avalanche Trends
The Avalanche are 3-8 in their last 11 overall. The Avalanche are 2-7 in their last 9 vs. the Northwest. The Avalanche are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. the Western Conference. The Avalanche are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Minnesota.
Wild Trends
The Wild are 17-8 in NHL betting in their last 25 vs. the Northwest. The Wild are 3-8 in their last 11 Friday games.
Total Trends
The Over is 21-10-1 in Colorado’s last 32 road games. The Under is 4-1 in Minnesota’s last 5 overall. In this series, the Under is 11-3-3 in the last 17 meetings in Minnesota.