Avalanche vs. Wild Prediction, Odds, Best Prop Bet for NHL Playoffs Game 4

The Colorado Avalanche tasted defeat for the first time this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, dropping a 5-1 road loss to the Minnesota Wild in Game 3. After sweeping the Los Angeles Kings and controlling Games 1 and 2, Minnesota jumped out to a hot start in Game 3 and never looked back. Can the Wild grab another home win to knot the series?

Date: Monday, May 11
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Grand Casino Arena
How to Watch (TV): ESPN

Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+185); Wild +1.5 (-225)
Moneyline: Avalanche -142; Wild +120
Total: 6.5 (Over -102/Under -118)

Avalanche vs. Wild Starting Goalies
Avalanche: Scott Wedgewood (6-1, 2.45 GAA, .911 SV%)
Wild: Jesper Wallstedt (5-3, 2.61 GAA, .913 SV%)

Mackenzie Blackwood saw his first action of the playoffs in relief of Scott Wedgewood in Game 3, but it would be surprising if the Avalanche didn’t go back to their starter in Game 4. Wallstedt bounced back with a strong 35-save performance in the Game 4 win.

BEST BET: Matt Boldy OVER 3.5 Shots on Goal (-140) vs. Avalanche

Boldy had four shots on goal and an assist through the first two games of the series, then put up five SOG and a goal in Game 3. The Wild winger totaled 254 shots on goal in 76 regular-season games and has 42 shots on goal through nine postseason games. Boldy has gone OVER 3.5 SOG in seven of nine playoff games, and OVER 4.5 in five of those, with UNDER 3.5 only in the first two games of this series. Expect him to keep firing tonight.

I explained in Top Shelf Picks why I like the Avalanche in Game 4: Colorado is looking to rebound from their first playoff loss, having outshot the Wild 36-25 in that stoppage and holding a 25-15 edge at 5-on-5 with an 18-13 margin in scoring chances. I’m backing Colorado to bounce back tonight in Minnesota. Pick: OVER 5.5 (+120)

BEST BET: Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists (-155)

Cale Makar is finally poised to reap the rewards of his elite play. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) takes a shot on goal against the Minnesota Wild. Cale Makar is one of the most productive playoff defensemen in history, producing 90 points through 86 career postseason games. After a rough showing on Saturday night, my Avalanche vs. Wild predictions expect Makar to make his mark offensively in Game 4.

Makar is consistently praised for his ability to control play from the back end and influence nearly every possession. The Colorado star has posted at least a point on 57% of on-ice goals in four straight seasons, never dipping below 52%. In these playoffs, that figure stands at 35% so far. The Avalanche are generating plenty of goals, chances, and shots with him on the ice, and he’s driving much of that production—he just hasn’t translated it into points yet.

SAME GAME PARLAY: Makar Over 0.5 assists • Necas Anytime Goal • Zuccarello Over 1.5 shots on goal

Martin Necas has tallied three shots on goal in every game this series, with his volume increasing each night. Necas often has Makar right behind him at 5-on-5, and Makar also creates a lot on the power play, making their outcomes highly correlated. On the other side, Mats Zuccarello has averaged 2.7 shots on 5.0 attempts per game in this series and has hit multiple shots in 11 of the last 13 games against the Avalanche. The attention given to Kirill Kaprizov tends to open more opportunities for Zuccarello.