Play: Minnesota Wild
Rating: 8*

The Minnesota Wild have dominated the Colorado Avalanche in recent season. They've won 10 of the last 12 overall and five of the last six at Pepsi Center. The Wild had shut out three consecutive opponents prior to a 2-1 setback against Buffalo on Tuesday, but I think they'll bounce back in a big way here. Colorado has lost eight straight games when its opponent scored two or fewer goals in the previous contest, and the Avs have lost four of their last five overall. They've scored just a single goal in back-to-back defeats to Nashville and Chicago and will surely struggle to solve this resilient Minnesota D that Bruce Boudreau has set up.

The Wild are last in the NHL at 26.1 shots per game, but they're picking their spots well and were fifth in scoring through Thursday's games with a 3.3 gpg average. The Avs have surrendered 3.11 goals per game on the season and with the Wild having the advantage at both ends of the rink I think this is an easy play on the visitors.