Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Minnesota +165 over Colorado

NHL Playoff Series Game 2

Colorado Leads Series 1-0

8:00 PM EST. This price is being driven by reputation. Colorado Avalanche are being valued like a team that creates separation on command, but that’s not how this matchup plays out. Game 1 ended 9-6, and that scoreline says more about chaos than control. Give Minnesota average goaltending in that game and we’re likely talking about a 1-0 series the other way.

Minnesota Wild bring a playoff profile that holds up. They defend, they don’t open things up unnecessarily, and they’re comfortable slowing games down. That matters against a team like Colorado that thrives when games turn into track meets. Minnesota doesn’t need to match that pace — they’ll drag this into a tighter game where chances are limited and every mistake counts more.

The Wild also showed plenty in the previous round. They handled Dallas, a team that put together a strong regular season, and did it by sticking to structure. There’s balance here. Scoring doesn’t come from one place, and they don’t rely on one line to carry the load. That makes them harder to game plan for over a series.

Colorado can score, no question and they are the cream of the crop but they are not invincible. The Avs gave up six goals in Game 1, which is not not a one-off concern — their goaltending has been shaky all season and when you combine that with a high-event style, you get volatility. In hockey, volatility is what keeps underdogs live. You don’t need perfection, you just need a window.

This number is inflated toward Colorado’s ceiling. Minnesota doesn’t have to outgun them over 60 minutes — they just need to stay within their structure and capitalize when chances come. If Colorado gives up anything close to what they did in Game 1, this series evens up quickly.

We're getting a very talented team at a strong price in a matchup that’s tighter than it looks. Minnesota is very live here, thus, the value sits with the dog.

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