Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction 2/26/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche meet Thursday in NHL action at the Ball Arena. Here’s a Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche prediction. This article will include a Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche pick.

Minnesota Wild Betting Preview

The Minnesota Wild beat the Habs and Predators, and they play the Mammoth next. The Wild has won 5 straight games.

The Minnesota Wild are averaging 3.31 goals per game and are scoring 25.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 32 goals, Matt Boldy has 30 assists and Joel Eriksson Ek has 145 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.86 goals per game and are killing 77.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Filip Gustavsson has allowed 94 goals on 1,004 shots faced, and Jesper Wallstedt has given up 63 goals on 725 shots.

Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Sharks and Mammoth, and they play the Blackhawks next. The Avalanche have lost 7 of their last 12 games.

The Colorado Avalanche are averaging 3.84 goals per game and are scoring on 15.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 40 goals, Cale Makar has 43 assists, and Artturi Lehkonen has 133 shots on goal. Defensively, the Colorado Avalanche are allowing 2.41 goals per game and are killing 84.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Scott Wedgewood has given up 71 goals on 813 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 48 goals on 572 shots.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche has won 11 of their last 12 games at Ball Arena following a road win.
• The Wild have lost six of their last seven games at Ball Arena against opponents on winning streaks.
• The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six night games against Central Division opponents.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in eight of their last nine Thursday games against the Wild.
• The Wild have lost the second period in four of their last five games as road underdogs against Central Division opponents when trailing after the first period.

Why the Minnesota Wild will win

• The Avalanche has lost four of their last five games as favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Wild have won four of their last five games as underdogs against opponents on winning streaks.
• The Wild have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games as underdogs after coming off overtime.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as a favorite when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Avalanche has lost the third period in four of their last five games when trailing after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Twelve of the Wild’s last 13 road games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Avalanche’s last eight games at Ball Arena following a road win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the last eight Thursday night games between two teams from the Central Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last 10 night games.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in four of the Avalanche’s last five games at Ball Arena against opponents on a winning streak.

Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts

• Brock Nelson has scored at least one goal in five of the Avalanche’s last six games as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
• Cale Makar has recorded at least one assist in each of the Avalanche’s last 10 Thursday games at Ball Arena.
• Nathan MacKinnon ranks 1st in the league for multi-goal games (13) this season.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

• Matthew Boldy has scored at least one goal in five of the Wild’s last six road games against Central Division opponents.
• Quinn Hughes has recorded at least one assist in each of the Wild’s last six road games.
• Quinn Hughes has recorded an assist in each of his last 10 appearances—the longest active streak in the league.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Colorado Avalanche rank 32nd in the league in power play percentage this season (15.38%).
• The Colorado Avalanche rank 2nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (84.52%).
• The Minnesota Wild rank 3rd in the league for power play goals this season (48).
• The Minnesota Wild rank 30th in the league in penalty minutes this season (398).

Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction

You can make a case for the Wild and the plus money, as they’ve been consistent this season and have shown they can win on the road. The problem is the Avalanche have a game under their belt and I value that over a team that hasn’t played in weeks. The Avs had a chance to get the jitters out. Also, the Avalanche have been ridiculously good this season, especially on their home ice. The Avs have won 7 of the last 10 games against the Wild. I’m not stepping in front of the Avalanche. Give me the Avs.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Colorado Avalanche