The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild take to the ice tonight in Game 6 of their First Round NHL Playoffs series. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on CNBC. Currently the odds for the game have Minnesota favored at home tonight.
The Minnesota Wild are on the verge of elimination, but they'll host the Colorado Avalanche tonight in Game 6. Colorado found a way to win in overtime Saturday night and now have at least assured themselves another home game if they can't get it done tonight in Minnesota. Every one of the first five games of this series have been very close and we expect nothing less from tonight's contest. Three games have gone to overtime, with Colorado winning two of those games.
Minnesota is probably stinging from a pair of losses when they led late in the game. Colorado tied two games, Game 1 and Game 5, late with less than two minutes remaining in each, then went on to pick up wins in overtime.
Both power plays have struggled in this series, with Colorado claiming a pair of goals while Minnesota has scored once with the extra attacker. For the first time in the last 10 games against the Wild, Colorado actually out-shot Minnesota in Game 5, collecting 35 shots compared to 32 by the Wild. Minnesota has been putting a lot of pressure on Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov.
Minnesota held a 78-34 advantage in the third and fourth games this series when it comes to shots on goal. Varlamov has saved more than 93 percent of the shots in this series. His counterpart, Darcy Kuemper, has collected a pair of wins after the Wild made the move to make him the starter. He's saved 94 percent of the shots Colorado has sent his way and has a 1.40 goals against average in three games.
Zach Parise has helped lead the offense for the Wild, handing out five assists so far this series. Charlie Coyle has scored three times. They've been countered by a pretty solid Colorado attack, led by Paul Stastny's three goals. Rookie Nathan MacKinnon is having a great first post season, collecting eight assists and a pair of goals in this series. His 10 points lead all NHL players this post season.
Tonight, we like Minnesota to win the game and force a seventh game. Home teams in the Western Conference are 18-4 so far this post season. The Wild are a very good home team and tonight they'll play well in a victory.
Free Pick: Minnesota 3, Colorado 1
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